It is with profound shock and sorrow that we view the events
as yet unfolding in the surrounds of Mamasapano in Maguindanao. Our hearts
bleed at the carnage wrought and the needless loss of Filipino lives brought on
by a series of decisions, events, judgment calls and developments that may
never be fully and publicly unraveled. We extend our deepest condolences to
those who’ve lost loved ones, and bear with those now undeservedly suffering in
its aftermath. We can even understand the grief, rancor and rage now simmering
as a visceral response by many to these events. We are aware and empathize with
these feelings and emotions to a degree. Yet despite this and to all we still
say, stay the course of peace, for it remains our best recourse.
As civil society and citizens, we are challenged to seek
clarity and resolution for the lives lost and the promise diminished in wake of
this violence. It underscores the ease with which some events can still quickly
escalate into confrontation and bloodshed, despite mechanisms in placed to counter
them. We can only begin to surmise how this singular event redounds to the
ongoing peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF). We have long valued the sizable investments made through the
years by both parties and their supporters in building mutual confidence and
trust, coupled with mutually agreed-upon processes and mechanisms. Through
those years, these systems have borne up well, granted they are allowed to
fully function. Thus we remain steadfast in our call for respecting and
trusting the mechanisms and processes in place, and staying the course of
peace.
This most regrettable clash also shows us that much remains
to be done on our path to genuine peace. Our common cause remains challenged in
the countryside, in the halls of Congress and more so in the minds and hearts
of many Filipinos. But this is the reality we must address if we seek a
permanent solution to the so-called Moro question. The proposed Bangsamoro
Basic Law (BBL), while imperfect and in need of enhancement, is the best answer
we have before us. It is a collective work in progress anchored on 40 years of
conflict, negotiations and lessons learned at very high cost to many of us. It
exemplifies our best expression of engagement, involvement, investment and
discourse on the Bangsamoro. The Mamapasano incident shows us that we cannot
yet rest and entrust the peace process to a roadmap without continuing to be
engaged, involved and aware of the travails and possibilities that dot and
crisscross our course to peace.
In these very trying times, we maintain our call for utmost
sobriety.
We salute the immediate response of the joint ceasefire and
coordinating mechanisms of the government and the MILF to this incident. While
there are still bodies to retrieve and some scattered fighting are continuing,
there is an actual palpable disengagement and quiet– albeit tense– obtaining.
We pray and ask all parties to sustain this.Let us address the emergent issues
of Mamapasano accurately and through proper channels. Let us continue to engage
in discourse and discernment. Let us continue working together for a more
all-encompassing solution to the issues at hand.
Let us continue to engage on the BBL and the Bangsamoro
question. Let us not be detoured by those who will pounce on this tragedy to
derail, if not scuttle the peace process.
Let us not be defined nor divided by the conflicts between
us, but rather by our constancy to our course for peace. CTB/PEACE PROCESS MEDIA BUREAU-PR/EDS
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=730003
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