Aquino visit to MILF camp lauded

Sen. Loren Legarda INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Loren Legarda praised President Benigno Aquino III’s visit to a main camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao, saying this “will gain the trust and faith of the Bangsamoro people.”

“It is a good sign that even before a formal peace agreement is signed between the government and the MILF, the administration of President Aquino has already started providing the much-needed basic services for the people of Mindanao,” Legarda said in a statement Monday.

“I am hopeful that this significant step taken by the government will gain the trust and faith of the Bangsamoro people and of the whole nation that the peace process is really underway, because ink on parchment alone cannot solve the problem,” she said.

Aquino visited the stronghold of the MILF in Sultan Kudarat province following the peace “framework agreement” signed between them last October 2012.

He launched the Sajahatra program of the government which will provide education, health and livelihood programs for the Muslims rebels.

Violence brought about by the secessionist movement has caused the area to be left behind in economic development.

Legarda said that “any peace agreement will not be successful without an economic package.”

“And it’s not enough that resources are made available. Resources must be translated into jobs, livelihoods, food, education, healthcare, and welfare for the Bangsamoro people,” Legarda said.

Aquino is the second Philippine President to visit the MILF stronghold, the first being former President Joseph Estrada who came after declaring all-out war against the rebels.