Cotabato prelate pushes for inter-religious dialogue, culture of peace in Mindanao
COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo said Saturday his archdiocese was pushing for the twin goals of more inter-religious dialogues between Christians, Muslims and indigenous communities and the development of a “culture of peace” in Mindanao to complement the newly signed Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
“We will engage not only the leaders but the masses and other major stakeholders of peace in Mindanao, in helping realize the real meaning and intent of the Bangsamoro peace agreement,” Quevedo said in a media statement.
Quevedo is often referred to as the “Man of Peace” in Mindanao.
In the 1990s, he helped put up the Bishops-Ulama Conference, whose main goal is to help foster peace and understanding among various faiths in the southern Philippines.
“There is a need for the Archdiocese of Cotabato Social Action Programs, Basic Ecclesial Communities and the inter-religious dialogues to realize the two things,” the 75-year-old Quevedo said.
He said he had tasked missionary priest Bert Layson of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate to push for the development of a “culture of peace.”
To boost efforts toward a culture of peace in Mindanao, Quevedo said, Church-run schools should also include or integrate in their curriculum the culture of peace campaign.
Father Lauro de Guia, OMI Philippine superior, said the congregation, which runs a number of Notre Dame schools, was aware of the need to educate people about “mutual respect for the right to one’s identity” and to hold “continuing dialogues and consultations, leading to the establishment of a Bangsamoro government that will protect individual and collective rights.”
“There is also a need for the Bangsamoro government to be truly democratic, accountable and representative of the diversity of its populace; and for the parties to abide by the modalities and mechanisms provided, and most important, to ensure the integrity of the whole process,” De Guia said.
Quevedo had also said earlier that “true peace can never be had unless we rid ourselves of biases and prejudices and learn to respect and co-exist with one another.”
Quevedo considered the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in Malacañang on Thursday as a guide and basis for peace to reign but stressed the importance of “individual roles to play to attain it.”
He said the Bangsamoro Basic Law that the Bangsamoro Transition Commission is drafting must have in its Declaration of Principles the promotion and protection of the principles of “self-determination, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
According to Quevedo, “No war or rebellion can be won unless these doable principles are enshrined.”
While Quevedo harped on man’s biases and prejudices as detrimental to lasting peace, other peace advocates raised the issues of pride and greed.
“Contentment and humility are virtues of peace in the real sense of the world,” said Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo.
“Satisfaction with barely enough in life can only be had with a humble heart, and these qualities in man are pleasing to the Lord. In essence, this helps set aside our prejudices,” he added.
