Law students taught importance of understanding, listening

CEBU, Philippines - Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor Leonen highlighted the importance of understanding and listening during the forum held at the University of the Philippines-Cebu yesterday.

The said forum was organized by the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) Cebu, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City Chapter and the UP Cebu Political Science Program with a topic “Understanding the Anatomy of Political Conflict: Reflections on the Concepts of Dispute Processing of Public Issues.”

Leonen, who served as the government’s chief peace negotiator in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) spoke before law students from different universities in Cebu, Christian and Muslim peace advocates and the members of the judiciary. In the said forum, Leonen discussed how they were able to meet the PH-Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.

He said trust, understanding and listening to concerns are the key ideas in meeting the agreement to stop the conflict in Mindanao. He said the Mindanao conflict was not about religion.

Based on reports, the agreement was “to establish a new autonomous political entity in Muslim Mindanao.”

Leonen said he was tasked to head the negotiation. At first, he said the MILF rejected their proposal but he said “I’m rejecting your rejection.” Later, he found out that in negotiation, it’s better to listen and understand.

“Start to listen to what they say. Trust is the element. Build confidence, sincerity and trust,” he said.

Ustadz Nazeeb Rasul, from the panel of reactors, said he admired and salute the efforts made by the government in bringing an end to the conflict in Mindanao. He believes that the problem can be solved by talking and not through violence.

Meanwhile, the president of the IBP Cebu City Chapter, lawyer Earl Bonachita said  the forum was “actually intended to give the public a better understanding of how the government has approached the peace problem in Mindanao, especially that Justice Leonen was the chairman of the peace panel representing the government that crafted the Framework Agreement with the MILF.” (FREEMAN)