MANILA, Philippines—Deal or no deal, the five members of the government panel who negotiated with the secessionist rebels to expand the Bangsamoro territory have been honored and hailed as “heroes” by peace advocates.
A mix of Muslims, Christians and indigenous peoples advocating peace in Mindanao hosted a testimonial dinner for the “Magic 5” at the Aberdeen Hotel in Quezon City on Friday night, heaping praises on peace panel members although the deal was scuttled.
“We’d like to affirm that you did a great job. We’re very proud that you’ve brought the negotiation to this point,” Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC) secretary general Mary Ann Arnado said in her tribute.
Not ready for fruit
“There’s a fruit in the negotiation, and it’s just unfortunate that there are some people and [some] sectors who are not yet ready for this fruit.”
Retired Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, panel chair, and members Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Leah Armamento and Prof. Rudy Rodil beamed as they listened to the tributes.
The other members—Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and Sylvia Paraguya—failed to show up.
The MPC and Sowing Peace in Mindanao, together with Anak Mindanao, organized the testimonial dinner and several NGOs, including some based in Manila, attended.
Most of the advocates agreed that the panel’s “biggest achievement” lay in the fact that it managed to coax the MILF to agree to hold a plebiscite on the MOA-AD.
“It’s almost impossible to convince a liberation movement, such as the MILF, to put their struggles through a democratic process,” Sitti Hadja Hataman, secretary general of the Moro Human Rights Center, said in an interview before the program.
Her husband, Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman, agreed.
“Those of us in the Muslim communities hold you (government peace panel) in high regard because you were able to convince a liberation movement to talk to you in a democratic process,” he said to the three guests. “You are heroes to the Muslim youth.”
Karen Tañada of the Mindanao Solidarity Network said: “In a way, you restored people’s trust in the role that government plays in talking peace with groups.”
Not losing hope
Loreta Castro of the Center for Peace Education-Miriam College said: “While it didn’t work out as planned, we’re not losing hope because we saw how you performed your role, and this will serve as an inspiration for us in our work for peace.”
The advocates offered flowers and presented plaques to the three members in recognition of their “significant contribution” to the peace process.
“This is a strong affirmation that we did it right,” said chief state prosecutor Armamento in response to the tributes. “I’m not sure if you know about this. We spent sleepless nights. We had protracted negotiations, discussions peppered with walkouts and acrimonious statements from the other side.”
Garcia, for his part, admitted that the aborted signing of the MOA-AD was a “big blow” to the panel.
“We accept what has happened... But I cannot totally and absolutely say that our efforts were wasted. The MOA may be dead, but I believe... we will keep the aspirations [alive],” he said.
After vowing not to sign the deal, Malacañang dissolved the panel on Sept. 3 after the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) balked at surrendering commanders blamed for attacking civilians and pillaging communities in Mindanao.
The attacks came after the Supreme Court halted the Aug. 5 signing of the deal, called the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD), following a petition by local politicians to nullify this.
