MNLF spokesperson assures Palawan remains as ‘Zone of Peace & Dev't’

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 9): MNLF spokesperson assures Palawan remains as ‘Zone of Peace & Dev't’

A spokesperson of the Moro National Liberation Front here assured Palaweños that the province remains a “Zone of Peace.”

Benhur Halipa, a member of the MNLF, said as a peace and development zone, their organization is bound to respect the agreement it signed with the Ramos administration in 1997 which spans 14 provinces, including Palawan, and 10 cities, including supposedly Zamboanga, where there is an ongoing stand-off between Moro fighters and the military.

In an interview with a local television station afternoon Monday, Halipa said the members of the MNLF in Palawan were surprised to learn about what happened in Zamboanga City, where he and his comrades are supposed to travel for a “peace rally” with their leader Nur Misuari.

“We were supposed to have a peace rally in Zamboanga, and some of us are already there. But I got a call last night telling me of what is happening there, and I was startled. Some of us who remain here, we postponed our trip already because of the incident,” Halipa said.

The MNLF leadership reportedly called out to its key leaders in different provinces to attend the peace rally that will call for “independence” in Zamboanga City on September 10-11, but they were not told there will be fighting.

He added that the MNLF members in Palawan are hoping that the “situation” in Zamboanga City can be resolved the soonest possible time to avoid bloodshed.

In Palawan, he said Palaweños have nothing to worry because MNLF members here want to resolve the issue having their “independence” through peaceful means.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=563902