DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Governors and mayors in Mindanao yesterday expressed their full support for President Aquino’s call for all-out justice and peace instead of an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whose leaders were reportedly behind the series of attacks that left scores of government troops dead.
Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, also concurrent president of the Confederation of Provincial Governors, City Mayors and Municipal Mayors (Confed-Mindanao), said local officials backed the calibrated and targeted military actions against the lawless elements.
Members of Confed, including 26 governors, signed a manifesto of support for the President.
“We firmly believe an all-out war is not an option because the collateral damage can take a heavy toll not just within the conflict areas but in the whole Mindanao,” said Del Rosario.
He said government should pursue the peace talks with the MILF amid the hostilities in Mindanao.
“We honor our fallen soldiers who valiantly fought with their lives defending the nation. We strongly urge relentlessly pursuing and subjecting those responsible for condemnable acts to the rule of law as this is one crucial way for the peace process to move forward,” the group said.
Del Rosario stressed that people should be more circumspect in issuing statements that would fan the situation and cause it to escalate.
Administration lawmakers, meanwhile, urged the President not to suspend infrastructure projects in the region, including in areas where the military is conducting pursuit operations against the MILF rebels.
Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong and Caloocan City Rep. Oscar Malapitan said billions of pesos in government funds allocated for bridges and roads in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) should be released.
Loong, chairman of the House committee on Muslim affairs, said Aquino’s order to the military to seek “all-out justice” for the slain soldiers and civilians should not be a reason not to pursue “all-out development” in ARMM and other parts of the region.
Malapitan said the implementation of infrastructure projects should be utilized to attract rebels to lay down their arms and rejoin the mainstream of society.
Malapitan, vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said infrastructure programs patterned after the Salam Bridge project should be put in place even as government forces continue to hunt down those behind the Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay attacks.
The Salam Bridge project, also known as the Bridges of Peace, put up a total of 89 bridges in four strife-torn ARMM provinces.
“The implementation of infrastructure projects in war-torn Mindanao is a key factor in achieving peace in the region. It is a good confidence building move to show the MILF that government is serious in pursuing peace negotiations as scheduled,” he said.
Sulu Rep. Nur Anna Sahidulla, vice chair of the House committee on peace and reconciliation, said the government should go full blast in implementing the infrastructure program for Mindanao.
On the other hand, the Tulay ng Pangulo sa SZOPAD (Special Zone of Peace and Development) spearheaded the construction of 593 more bridges in the SZOPAD and Mindanao localities, including Palawan.
Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna defended Aquino’s move to give the MILF P5 million in financial assistance.
He said the decision of Malacañang to assist in the training, education and development of future Muslim leaders espousing peace “can never be a betrayal of public trust because the purpose of the aid is for advancement and progress, not to aid the enemy.”
“There is nothing illegal in allotting funds to achieve peace. Raising the issue of impeachment is an absurdity because the aid was given precisely to build the capacity of our Moro brothers to change their mindset in achieving their advocacy, that is, through peaceful means,” Tugna said.