No more war, poverty, fear, children scampering for safety—Deles

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 11 years ago

Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles. Screengrab from PTV-4

MANILA, Philippines – “No more war.”

This was the promise of Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process, on Thursday afternoon before the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

“No more war, no more children scampering for safety, no more evacuees, no more lost schooldays or school-months, no more injustice, no more misgovernance, no more poverty, no more fear and no more want. Tama na, we are all tired of it,” Deles said.

Deles said the “new dawn” after the signing of the historic agreement will ensure that “no family will be forced to drive their children away for fear of being maimed or wounded by conflict.”

During the event, attended by foreign dignitaries, the Secretary thanked all those who made the signing possible, especially President Benigno Aquino III.

“Our common intentions will drive us forward,” she told the audience at included almost 500 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.