A mosque by the sea in Basilan province in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 11, 2012) – A Catholic bishop praised the peace deal between Manila and Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines where the two sides agreed on the establishment of the Bangsamoro, a new autonomous region in Mindanao.
Speaking to AsiaNews, The Most Reverend Martin Jumoad, the Bishop of Basilan, one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said he favors the creation of the new autonomous political entity in Mindanao.
“I welcome the move because it is a step towards peace. We have suffered a lot and any small step towards peace is a sign of hope,” he said.
Basilan is the scene of recent attacks on civilians by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and the Catholic Church in the province was also the target of terrorism.
The creation of Bangsamoro would have to be decided on a referendum in the ARMM and several areas in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato where there are large Muslim communities.
“We have to be vigilant. At the same time, we explain to people the workings of the agreement, showing the risks and the opportunities that come from voting yes or no (in the plebiscite),” Bishop Jumoad said, adding he hopes there will be respect for minority religions and groups in the proposed Bangsamoro region.
“Islam believes in a theocratic form of government,” he told the AsiaNews.
President Benigno Aquino announced the peace draft and would call a plebiscite in the proposed areas that would make up the new Muslim autonomous region.
Yasmin Lao, a Muslim member of the government peace panel, said the new agreement would create positive changes that could last for a lifetime following more than 40 decades of armed conflict in Mindanao.
“Indeed, this could lead to positive changes for a lifetime if we give peace a chance. Everyone will benefit with peace. The call of the government is let’s give peace a chance; the time of resorting to war is over. Let us usher in a new century of peace for our children and the next generation,” Lao said.
The five governors of the ARMM also declared their all-out support on the peace pact and vowed to support Aquino’s “road map for lasting peace in Mindanao.”
“We, the ARMM provincial governors, support this Framework Agreement reached between the Aquino government with the MILF because it will peacefully resolve the armed conflict in Mindanao through democratic process and constitutional ways. It is not like the ‘all-out-war’ policy which solves nothing and merely prolongs conflict and causes deaths,” said Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan in a statement.
“There is nothing to worry or fear in the Framework Agreement which is a road map for an inclusive and transparent peace process being pursued now by the Daang Matuwid (straight path) policy of President Aquino.”
“The rights of the people will be respected and they will be asked in a plebiscite. The process (of replacing ARMM with Bangsamoro) will be very democratic. It will pass constitutional test,” Tan said, adding he and his fellow ARMM governors are optimistic of the efforts of both the government and MILF to achieve just and lasting peace in Mindanao.
The other ARMM governors are Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar and Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali. (Mindanao Examiner)
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