President Aquino to Filipinos: Contribute towards Bangsamoro’s success Published: July 23, 2013. Latest update: July 23, 2013. From the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Saying that peace in the conflict-laden south is within reach, President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday called on Filipinos to contribute towards the successful establishment of the new Bangsamoro political entity in 2016. “Umaasa po ako sa pakikiambag ng bawat Pilipino sa layunin natin para sa Bangsamoro [I am hopeful that every Filipino will contribute towards our goals for the Bangsamoro],” he said during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). The envisioned Bangsamoro region is set to replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which has been considered by the PNoy administration as a “failed experiment” as it has fallen short of fulfilling the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for peace and development. “Ipakita po natin sa kanilang hindi sila nagkamali sa pagpili sa direksyon ng kapayapaan; handa tayong ipahiram ang lakas ng buong bansa upang iangat ang mga probinsya sa Muslim Mindanao, na kabilang sa mga pinakamaralita nating mga lalawigan [We will prove that they did not make a mistake in choosing the path of peace; we are ready to lend the strength of the entire nation to lift up the provinces of Muslim Mindanao, who are among our poorest],” he added. The President stressed that the government aspires for peace and progress in all communities. “Hindi tayo papayag na may kababayan tayong mapapag-iwanan habang may ibang nakakalamang [We will not allow any of our countrymen to be left behind, while others surpass them].” Aquino also appealed to the Congress to support the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will be drafted by the Transition Commission and subjected to a legislative process paving the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro region. “Tatapusin ito alinsunod sa mga prinsipyo ng komprehensibong kasunduan para sa kapayapaan; maipasa po sana ninyo ito bago matapos ang 2014. Sa gayong paraan, may sapat tayong panahon para makapaghanda sa paghalal ng bagong pamahalaangBangsamoro sa 2016 [Once their task is completed in keeping with the principles of the peace process, I ask you to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the end of 2014. This way, we will have ample time to prepare for the election of a new Bangsamoro government come 2016].” Peace gains Aquino cited the historic signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as major peace gain as his administration reached its midterm. “Abot-kamay na rin po ang kapayapaan sa rehiyong matagal nang pinupunit ng hidwaan. Nitong Oktubre po ng nakaraang taon nilagdaan ang Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro [Peace is also within reach in a region that has long been torn apart by conflict. In October of the previous year, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed],” he stated. The President further related that it was just nine days ago when another milestone was achieved in the GPH-MILF peace process with the signing of the Annex on Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing during the 38th formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur. He said it was the collective efforts of Filipinos who chose the nonviolent path to resolving armed conflict that have made the peace gains possible. “May nakaisip bang magiging abot-kamay na ang kapayapaan sa rehiyong apatnapung taon nang pinupunit ng hidwaan? Di ba’t gawa ito ng mga Morong handang magbaba ng armas at sinabing, halika, mag-usap na tayo, nagtitiwala ako? Di ba’t gawa ito ng karaniwang mamamayang nagsabing, Kapatid, pareho tayong Pilipino, tama na nga ang gulo? [Did anyone imagine that peace would be within reach for a region that has, for the past 40 years, been torn apart by conflict? Who else could be responsible for this but the Moros who laid down their arms and said: “Come. Let’s talk. I trust you.” Who else but the common Filipino citizen who said: “Brother, we are all Filipinos. Let us put an end to this conflict].” Delivering commitments Aquino reiterated the government’s commitment in abiding by its agreements with the MILF. “Pinalaki po ako ng aking ama nang may isang salita, kaya’t sinasabi ko sa mga kapatid nating kasapi ng Bangsamoro: Anumang mapagkasunduan natin ay ipatutupad ng pambansang gobyerno [My father raised me to be true to my word, and I can tell our brothers and sisters of the Bangsamoro: Whatever agreements we come to will be fulfilled by the national government],” he said. “Ang mga salitang ating bibitawan ay dapat magbunga ng mga kilos na positibong makakaapekto sa lahat [Every word we utter must result in an action that would benefit all],” Aquino added. “Ang bawat linya sa binubuo nating kasunduan ay dapat maaaring itaga sa bato, at hindi ililista lamang sa tubig upang anurin na naman ng kasaysayan [Every line that we craft in the agreement we are forging must be set in stone and not merely written on water, only to be forgotten by history].” He also underscored the growing trust between the government and the MILF. “At ngayon, talagang dama natin na gustong makipagkasundo ng magkabilang panig, at tayo naman ay nagpapakita na dapat talaga tayong pagkatiwalaan [Now, the desire of both sides to reach an agreement is palpable, and we are truly proving ourselves trustworthy].” Amid these gains, the President asked those who sow seeds of doubt and mistrust for the peace process to fail: “Masasabi mo bang Pilipino kang may malasakit sa kapwa mo Pilipino? [Can you really say that you are a Filipino that has compassion for his fellow Filipinos?]”
Posted on: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 06:03:08 +0000