ABOUT a thousand individuals, including top officials of both the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), expressed their desire to unite for peace in Mindanao in a gathering in Lupon, Davao Oriental.
The gathering, initiated by the two revolutionary organizations, was an initial attempt for the two sides to solidify as part of their response to the initiative of the Philippine government in resolving the decades-old Bangsamoro conflict.
In his message during the event, Gadzali Jaafar, MILF Central Committee first vice president, agreed with President that pursuing peace at this moment both for the government and the Moro groups is crucial and the best time.
“This (conflict) can be resolved,” said Jaafar as he acknowledged the move of the Duterte administration to discuss with the two fronts on how to implement the peace agreements that the government has signed since1975 when then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, through the intercession of Libya and the Organization of Islamic Conference, signed the so-called Tripoli Agreement.
The 1975 agreement was signed when it was only the MNLF as the negotiating entity for the Bangsamoro people as a few years later, the late Hashim Salamat and his group left the Nur Misuari-led group to form the MILF.
Jaafar said the task in resolving the problem is with the government as the revolutionary organizations have also been pushing for the right to self-determination.
He added the previous governments only initiated the signing of agreements, but never been determined to implement these agreements.
The difference between the previous Presidents and Mr. Duterte, he added, is that the latter has studied the history of Mindanao and has been from Mindanao as he has acknowledged the injustices committed on the Moro people.
He also acknowledged the presence of the police, military and members of the International Monitoring Team, the body monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire between the government and the MILF in the meeting.
“We (MILF and MNLF) are not your enemy,” Jaafar told the police and the military, explaining that historically the whole of what has become the Philippine archipelago was once a Moro nation before invaders colonized Luzon and the Visayas.
For his part, Jimmy Labawan, MNLF vice chair, urged the two groups to unite “because it is unity and solidarity that we will be able to achieve peace.
“We are tired as thousands of lives have been sacrificed,” said Labawan, as he took note of the revolution which started about 40 years ago.
Labawan added that he hopes the Philippine government can complete its initiatives of bringing peace to Mindanao as he added that the Moro people will always respect other inhabitants of Mindanao.
Early this month, the government side headed by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus G. Dureza went to Malaysia to meet with the MILF side to start the discussions on how to implement the agreements.
Before leaving for Kuala Lumpur, Dureza said that the government will also include in the implementation the MNLF and other Moro groups, particularly the Sultanate of Sulu.
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