ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb 25 (PNA) — Key leaders of civil society groups in Mindanao rallied behind Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles and Government of the Philippines chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer in the face of calls from two lawmakers for their resignation, following the Feb. 24 Senate hearing on the Mamasapano incident.
“It is unwise proposition. All the more [that] we need them [Deles and Ferrer] to finish what they have started to bring the peace process to fruition for the sake of sustainable peace in Mindanao,” Alih S. Aiyub, secretary-general of the National Ulama Conference said.
“I’m sorry I don’t join those hoodlums calling people to resign when they have nothing to do with death of the fallen Philippine National Police officers,” Ali T. Yacub, president of the Golden Crescent Consortium of Peace Builders and Affiliates said.
Senator Allan Peter Cayetano and Muntinlupa lone district Rep. Rodolfo Biazon have called for the resignation of Deles and Ferrer, claiming that the allegiance of the two were in question.
Cayetano has accused Deles and Ferrer for acting as spokespersons of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during the Senate investigation on the Mamasapano incident in which a tragic misecounter between troopers of the Police’s Special Action Forces and MILF fighters occurred on Jan. 25.
Deles immediately denied Cayetano’s claims, emphasizing that “I spoke not on behalf of the MILF. I spoke on behalf of the peace process.”
Vincent T. Lao, chairman of the Mindanao Business Council, advised those who are calling for the resignation of Deles and Ferrer to wait for the results of the investigation.
“Congress is conducting an inquiry. Let’s wait for the result before we start pointing fingers,” he said.
Prime movers of peace process
Edmund Gumbahali, president of the Sulu-based Panglima Hawani Foundation, said that the two officials were the “prime movers” of the southern peace process and “they should complete their task.”
A civil society organization called “I Care for Bangsamoro Movement” posted in their facebook page that “Ang mga politiko tulad nina Alan Peter Cayetano ay maaaring kamohian kayong dalawa dahil sa inyong kagustuhan na magkaroon ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao. (Politicians like Alan Peter Cayetano may hate the two of you because of your desire to achieve peace in Mindanao.)”
The group said that they should not be affected with such criticism because “ang alam lang nila ay kong paano kunin ang boto ng bayan ngunit ang sukli sa mga tao ay paghihirap dulot ng gyera na kanilang isinisigaw. (All they know is to get the votes of the people, but they express their gratitude by bringing suffering due to their call for war.)” This facebook post of the group garnered more than 1,260 likes or approval from netizens.
From Lanao del Sur, Datu Alexander Mama-o, president of the Filipino Alliance for Integrity and Reform (FAIR Movement-Philippines) and coordinator of the Ninoy Aquino Movement back in the 1980s, lauded Deles and Coronel-Ferrer for the milestones in the Mindanao peace process under their leadership under the administration of President Aquino.
“In this modern times when the Philippines still grapples with internal armed conflict, Deles and Coronel-Ferrer are two women who are the new iron ladies in the country’s path towards peace in Mindanao. They should be commended by the nation for moving forward to find the elusive peace in Mindanao with the signing of the CAB and submission of the BBL in Congress. They serve as ‘ina ng bayan’ na ihahatid sa kapayapaan ang buong bansa (mothers of this nation who will bring peace to the country). They should be commended, instead of being the recipient of name-calling. Unlike politicians, they have no personal ambitions. They are mothers sympathetic to the needs of the people, especially the children caught in conflict.” (PNA)