INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — “I hope it never happens.”
These were Senator Imee Marcos’ words when she was asked on Thursday what her thought was about proposals on “separate and independent” Mindanao.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte earlier raised the matter, saying that local political forces would form groups to achieve the breakaway.
His suggestion came amid a supposed rift between Marcoses and Dutertes.
“I don’t agree as I’ve said it’s heart wrenching. I hope it never happens. It’s horrible to think that the Republic will be eviscerated – our entire archipelago,” Marcos said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.
Apart from Marcos, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, a Mindanaoan, on Wednesday said this is the last thing that the country wants and needs at the moment.
“With due respect to the former president, I think right now the last thing that we want is for our country to be in chaos and fall apart. I think we should slow down the fighting because what is important there is the welfare of the people and I think all these fighting between the different groups is not going to be good for our economy, it’s not going to be good for our country, it’s not going to be good for our children and our children’s children,” Zubiri said, partly in Filipino.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III emphasized that he is against any suggestion of separation of any part of the Philippine territory.
“We have to work tirelessly on making this nation function as a working effective State,” Pimentel told reporters in a text message on Wednesday.