Friday, January 31, 2014

Biazon urges MILF to convince BIFF-member relatives to surrender to end secession in Mindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 31): Biazon urges MILF to convince BIFF-member relatives to surrender to end secession in Mindanao

The chairman of the House committee on defense and national security on Friday challenged the leadership of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to show their sincerity and readiness to join the government’s effort to end hostilities in Mindanao.

Muntinlupa City Representative Rodolfo Biazon said that it is high time for the BIFF members to show their sincerity that they are not tolerating lawless elements by convincing relatives who have joined Bangsamoro Islamic Fighters (BIFF) to surrender to authorities.

“I think this is the time for MILF to show to the Filipino people that they heavily favor peace in Mindanao and end the more than four decades of hostilities,” Biazon told Philippines News Agency in a text message.

The MILF have forged peace negotiation and have passed four annexes that will be part of the Bangsamoro Framework in the future after they inked the vital annexes agreement recently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Philippine Government had express strong determination to end hostilities in Mindanao and convert this second largest Philippine Island into a food basket and industrial hub.

The southern region of Mindanao is classified as the home of predominantly Catholic and Muslim minority. The MILF is the most important in a range of armed groups that have been fighting for independence for the majority-Muslim areas.

Government leaders hope that the rebel group will begin disarming in May which is contrary to the beliefs of BIFF which is not part of the negotiation.

“If the BIFF will rejoin MILF, their former home, then they will be part of the agreement and they are obliged to follow faithfully what have been agreed,” Biazon explained.

According to Biazon, showing sincerity that MILF will no longer tolerate lawlessness, they must spearhead crushing the armed groups to prove that they are respecting and obeying the Philippine Flag and its Constitution.

But he admitted that “Rido” or clash between clans which had been embedded to the Muslim’s culture will need more time to change the old habit.

The former AFP chief of staff turned politician, claimed that at least this administration has made a giant leap in pursuit of true peace in Mindanao, hoping that this could be the start of long lasting peace combined with full blast development that the people can realize that no one can claim they are victorious in any kind of war.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=611507

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