MANILA, Feb. 5 (PNA) — Various civil society organizations gathered Wednesday under the Mendiola Peace Arch in Manila to call for truth and justice for those who have fallen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
The tragedy, the groups said, demonstrates the need to make sure that the peace process “continues with even more fervor.”
“The deaths of the victims would become meaningless if we, as a nation, will bury in their graves, the peace process,” said Friends of the Bangsamoro spokesperson Egoy Bans.
The peace process, he said, “could potentially help resolve and prevent similar incidents from happening again.”
The call of the civil society come amid reported withdrawal of support of some lawmakers to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, following the violent encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
“Everyone is tired of war, not just the peoples of Mindanao but the whole country,” said Liza Ugay of Mindanao Solidarity Network. “With the Mamasapano incident, the number of internally displaced persons may escalate again if we cannot come up with sound judgment and answers to the Bangsamoro question.”
Organizations that joined the march also included Generation Peace Network, Balay Rehabilitation Network, WE Act 1325, Partido Lakas ng Masa, Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc., Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Initiatives for International Dialogue, Partido ng Manggagawa, Women’s Peace Table, Aksyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan, and the Young Moro Professionals Network.
The groups represented various sectors, including women and the youth. They asked that the public remember all those whose lives were lost in the tragic clash in Mamasapano, including those from the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, other armed groups and the civilian population.
“We call on everyone to keep faith with our peace panels as well as the GPH and MILF leaders, who are determined to do their utmost toward the full implementation of the peace agreement,” said Mirma Mae Tica of the Miriam College Center for Peace Education.
Jasmin Nario Galace of WE Act 1325 said that the women of Mindanao are also clamoring for peace. “War solves nothing. Ituloy ang Mindanao peace process,” she said. (PNA)