Members of Bangsamoro People Solidarity for Peace (BPSP) belonging to civil society, religious, youth and women's sectors have come together to condemn the suspension of the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
They said the MOA could have been a step forward in achieving lasting peace and genuine economic development in Mindanao.
They condemned the intervention of North Cotabato Vice-Gov. Emmanuel Piñol and Zambaonga City Mayor Celso Lobregat which resulted to the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) by the Supreme Court against the MOA-AD signing.
The MOA was supposed to be signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last August 5, 2008.
"Piñol promotor ng giyera sa Mindanao. Hindi totoo na sinunog at kinupkop namin ang lupain ng mga Kristiyano. Kami ang inagawan ng lupa!" said the group.
They also criticized other politicians who opposed the MOA particularly members of the political opposition such as United Opposition leader Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Sen. Francis Escudero, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., former president Joseph Estrada, UNO spokesman Adel Tamano, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, and Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin.
The group said these politicians have never experienced war and do not how it feels to be in constant pain due to violence, conflict and poverty such as what the Bangsamoro people are going through.
They even added that these politicians are just using this issue to get media mileage to benefit their political ambitions. Escudero, Estrada, Tamano and Roxas are rumored to be running for Presidentr in 2010.
"Sino sila? Nandiyan lang sila sa kanilang mga opisina. Ginagamit lang nila ito para maging popular, kasi gusto nilang tumakbo bilang presidente!" said members of the group.
They also answered criticisms that the MOA signing could potentially result in the extension of President Arroyo’s stay in office beyond 2010. They said they support Mrs. Arroyo’s initiative to give peace in Mindanao but they expressed they would oppose any amendment in the Constitution that will make her extend her term.
They also made it clear that the MOA signing is just the beginning, after this, they still have to craft a Comprehensive Pact which will be forwarded to Congress and then submitted to the people for plebiscite.
"Kung may gusto silang baguhin sa MOA, ayusin nila sa Kongreso. Kung di ka naman pabor sa resulta, eh di vote no sa plebiscite," members of the group added.
Members of the BPSP who slammed the suspension of the MOA signing include Norhaiya Macusang (representing women's group), Imam Abdul Basit Marangit (religious), Ustadz Ayob Khan (religious), Pendatun Disimban (civil society) and Amina Ubrahim (youth). Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News
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