Indigenous peoples support GPH-MILF quest for Mindanao peace

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 5): Indigenous peoples support GPH-MILF quest for Mindanao peace

Non-Muslim communities in southern Philippines have expressed optimism the soon to be completed government peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would bring genuine peace in Mindanao, tribal leaders said Wednesday.

Two tribal leaders, Bae Magdalena Suhat Herbilla, chair of the Council of Elders of the Federation of Matigsalog-Manobo Tribal Council (FEMMATRIC) and Habbas Camendan, deputy chair of Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM), in separate statements that their groups are also supportive of Malacanang's peace initiative in southern Philippines.

The two are acknowledged tribal and traditional leaders of the indigenous peoples in Mindanao.

Herbilla said the people of Mindanao, especially the "lumads" desire peace.

With about 30,000 members occupying IP ancestral lands in the towns of North Cotabato and Maguindanao, the group said they are confident the final peace deal will bring economic and cultural development in their communities.

"Any peace deal that bring socio-economic, political and ancestral rights of highland non-Moro communities will have our support," Herbilla said.

Camendan, on the other hand, believed that the peace deal will erase the impression and misconception that they will loose their ancestral lands once the new political Bangsamoro government is established in Mindanao.

He also denied reports that the IPs will take up arms once the final peace deal is signed because they will form part of it and that they are among the beneficiaries the agreement would bring to Mindanao.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=613019