Friday, April 26, 2013

MNLF vows to support peaceful elections in ARMM

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 25): MNLF vows to support peaceful elections in ARMM

Election and security officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Thursday lauded the move of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in joining organizations working for peaceful and orderly midterm elections in the region.

Lawyer Ray Sumalipao, ARMM election director, also lauded the statement of Abdul Sahrin, speaking for the MNLF's largest and most politically active group, that the MNLF will fully support the memorandum of understanding between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Earlier, the GPH and MILF agreed to work together to ensure SAFE or Safe and Fair Elections in the region's five provinces, previously known as violence-prone provinces during elections.

Sahrin said MNLF chair Muslimin Sema, who is seeking the mayorship of Cotabato City, directed all MNLF field commanders in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to support the MOU and help prevent lawless elements from disrupting the political exercises.

Chief Supt. Noel Delos Santos, ARMM police regional director, also welcomed the MNLF move, saying the ARMM balloting will surely be smooth with major stakeholders' commitment to support all peaceful means of holding the elections.

Sema is Liberal Party’s candidate for mayor of Cotabato City against reelectionist mayor Japal Guiani, Jr.

Sema, in a statement stressed that the MNLF's move was consistent with the provisions of the 1996 GPH-MNLF final peace pact, which enjoins both sides to mutually cooperate in furthering peace and sustainable development in areas covered by the accord.

President Benigno Aquino III, in his campaign sortie in Maguindanao last week, endorsed the candidacy of Sema, calling him "peacemaker" for his support to the ongoing government peace process with the MILF.

According to Sahrin, Sema has ordered MNLF field commanders to help the police and military monitor any unusual movements in their respective communities of suspected partisans or lawless elements in their respective areas in the region.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=520016

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