Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – There is no stopping the “peace train.”
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma on Thursday assured the public that any “spoiler” to the government’s peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be dealt with accordingly.
“Lahat po ng mga lumilikha ng ligalig at nananakot sa ating mga mamamayan ay haharapin ng ating Sandatahang Lakas at ng Pambansang Kapulisan habang ipapatupad po nang buong determinasyon lahat ng probisyon ng comprehensive agreement,” he said in a press briefing.
(All those creating confusion and terrorizing our people will face the Armed Forces and the national police as we implement with full determination all the provisions of the comprehensive agreement.)
Coloma gave the statement amid fears that the Nur Misuari-led Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) or the splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters will attempt to derail the peace process.
“Habang binabalangkas po ‘yung batas na magpapatupad nito ay magsasagawa na ng mga inisyatiba para mailatag na ‘yung pundasyon tungo sa pangmatagalang kapayapaan,” the secretary said.
(While the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will implement the peace agreement, is being drafted, we will launch initiatives to build the foundation for long-term peace.)
However, Coloma said the government would instead want to focus on the celebration of the historic event.
“Ang pokus natin ay doon sa positive, hindi doon sa mga spoiler, pero handa tayo para sa kanila,” he said.
(Our focus is on the positive, not the spoilers, but we are ready for them.)
The Philippine government and the MILF will sign the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on Thursday. However, government peace panel head Miriam Coronel Ferrer said the inking of the final peace accord is only a “station stop in this difficult but rewarding journey to build peace, development, and meaningful autonomy for the Bangsamoro and the other people in the parts of Mindanao.”
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