In its desire to contribute to the peace process in Mindanao and for better harmonious relationship,
organizers of the provincial's prestigious Sagayan Festival have invited
ranking leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
"We have sent official invitation to the chair of the
MILF and other local commanders as part of mainstreaming the rebel movement
ahead of the successful peace process," Engr. Wahab Tunga, Maguindanao
provincial administrator, told reporters.
Sagayan Festival, which will culminate on Feb. 13-14, was an
annual festival pioneered by Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu in 2011,
to celebrate peace and development of the people of Maguindanao.
Tunga said Sagayan is an ethnic Maguindanaon war dance
portraying the resilience of Maguindanaons and their propensity to defend their
people from oppression.
Maguindanao literally means "people of the flooded
plains" or communities in the Liguasan marshland.
Tunga said the move to invite the MILF was meant to foster
fellowship and cordiality between the MILF leaders and the local officials of
Maguindanao.
Tunga said he saw the need for the provincial government to
initiate the move or efforts to reach out to the MILF since some local
officials are at odds with some local MILF field commanders.
While ranking leaders of the MILF could not attend to the
culminating activity, some zone commanders and sub leaders of the Moro front
were seen roaming around the provincial capitol grounds, visiting trade fair
booths where Maguindanao traditional products are sold.
Many of the MILF commanders and members were also seen
mingling with ordinary Maguindanaons at the municipal gymnasium where TV
personality Vice Ganda and comedian AiAi delas Alas performed Wednesday night.
Mangudadatu said he was sad MILF leaders could not make it.
“This is a good chance for us to reaffirm friendships and
renew our commitments to cooperate in peace and development initiatives and in
the monitoring of the ceasefire in all Maguindanao towns,” Mangudadatu told
reporters.
Board member Bobby Katambak said the highlight of the
weeklong celebration is the street dancing parade around the Buluan town, the
provincial capitol.
Katambak hoped MILF chief negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal could
grace the occasion as his personal guest.
Katambak stressed the successful "Sagayan"
activities have proven to all that the January 25 hostilities in Mamasapano did
not affect the overall security landscape of the province,” Katambak said.
Forty- four elite police force, 18 MILF and five civilians
were killed in the Jan. 25 clash that also killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli
bin Hir, most known as Marwan. His aide Abdul Basit Usman was wounded but managed
to escape.
Mangudadatu also appealed to the people of Maguindanao to
ignore text message circulating about alleged plot to disrupt the celebration.
He stressed there are peace saboteurs in the province but
surely they will fail.
Mangudadatu said the Sagayan Festival was a venue to show to
the people of Luzon and Visayas that Maguindanao is peaceful despite the
January 25 incident and that the people of Maguindanao are supportive of the Mindanao peace process.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=734914
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