Aquino says visit to MILF signifies trust given to gov't

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 11): Aquino says visit to MILF signifies trust given to gov't

President Benigno S. Aquino III Monday said his visit to a Moro Islamic Liberation Front community signifies the trust given to his government by the MILF led by its chairman, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, and the entire central committee towards the achievement of a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.

The President made this statement when asked in a chance interview to describe his thoughts upon stepping into an MILF lair, which has not been done by any president before him, following the launch of the government’s Sajahatra Bangsamoro program at the Bangsamoro Leadership Military Institute compound here.

“Unang-una, pagkilala ito syempre sa pagtitiwala rin naman na ipinagkaloob ni Chairman Murad at sampu ng Central Committee, sampu ng kanilang mga kasapi, tungo sa pagkakaroon ng kapayapaan,” President Aquino said.

“Hindi naman hingi ang nangyari. Pwede nating sabihin napakaraming ibinigay para nga maipakita ang sinseridad sa pagkakaroon ng tunay na kapayapaan at kaunlaran lalo na sa ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao),” he added.

Upon his arrival, the President said he was amazed at the community’s green environment adding that he could not help but imagine how great its potential would be once peace is achieved in Mindanao.

“Pagdating natin dito, syempre, hindi natin maiwasan na tingnan kung gaano kaluntian ang buong paligid; kung gaano kayaman… Hindi mo maiwasan na hindi i-imagine ‘pag may kapayapaan talaga kung gaano kaunlad—kung gaano kalaki ang potensyal at gaano kaunlad ang mangyayari sa lahat ng tao dito,” the President said.

“Kung lahat ng energies na naidulot doon sa pakikipag-bakbakan ‘nung araw, ngayon naman ay sa pagpapaunlad dadalhin, ay talagang mabilis ang pagbabagong mangyayari dito sa kapakanan ng lahat,” he emphasized.

President Aquino was at the BLMI to personally witness the official launch of the Sajahatra Bangsamoro program which is his administration’s concrete socio-economic initiative aimed to uplift the health, education, and livelihood conditions of the MILF communities.

The MILF has been collaborating with the government in naming the target beneficiaries of the services to be delivered by government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Agriculture, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

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