OFFICIAL STATEMENT
October 25, 2012

The Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM) Inc. joins the public in rejoicing the historic signing of Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro on October 15, 2012 in Malacanang Palace by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) Panel Chairman, Atty. Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Panel Chairman, Mohagher Iqbal as witnessed by Malaysian facilitator, Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar bin Tengku Mohamed in the presence of the President of the Republic of the Philippines His Excellency Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Sri Hj. Mod Najib Biun Tun Hj. Abdul Razak, and Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Al Haj Murad Ibrahim.

We commend with highest distinction these honorable people for their gift of audacity and statesmanship as channel for the peoples’ self-determination.

This development inspires our march towards ‘building a sustainable communities of tri-people living in JustPeace and creation-centered development’. The disclosure and unveiling of the road map of the GPH-MILF peace process to the public was a relief and success for the grassroots communities. To prolong private talks about public concerns add-up to the curiosity and suspicion; delaying further allows the people to venture and rely on their subjective interpretations and apprehensions which contribute to the tremors and tensions carved out from natural boundaries of the society like ethnicity, religion, territories and nationalities.

We understand the difficulties ahead of this road map. The democratic and transparent mode of peace processes will guide us to take part and own the peace agreement.

We therefore call the GPH and MILF to:

• Uphold and maintain the democratic and transparent peace process until the implementation and monitoring of comprehensive peace agreement by instituting feedback mechanism to the people;

• Promote active and meaningful participation of all stakeholders especially within the core areas of Bangsamoro by recognizing the legitimate peoples’ representatives and conducting regular consultation and dialogues in the community and;

• Uphold justice in the peace process by recognizing, respecting and promoting the indigenous peoples (Teduray, Lambangian, Dulangan Manobo and other indigenous peoples) and Migrants/Settlers’ collective and individual rights through their democratic and active participation in crafting of the basic law;

We appeal to the adjacent barangays, provinces and regions to execute and show examples of justice-promoting governance that would inspire the proposed Bangsamoro government. Stirring emotions and casting irresponsible lexis and verdict will only suffocate and castrate the peace process.

We call on the civil society organizations (CSOs) to continue to build peace constituencies and intensify support to the peace process; help provide venues for public discourse towards informed decisions. This will amplify the voice of the grassroots and bridge the gap of the top–down approach in peacemaking.

Finally, let us sustain the citizen-based peacebuilding works for there is no substitute for public peace process on the communities. Let us guard ourselves from being stressed in failing from high expectation which sometimes perpetuates the cycle of aggression. Let’s roll our sleeves and continue working!

SGD
Rodelio “Yats” Ambangan
Chairperson