Quevedo pushes for dialogues, culture of peace in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo said the archdiocese was pushing “two important works to complement the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.”

Quevedo, in a media statement, said these were the conduct of more interreligious dialogues between Christians, Muslims and indigenous communities, and the aggressive push for the development of the Mindanao culture of peace.

“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.

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 was to help foster peace and understanding among various faiths in the southern Philippines.

“There is a need for the Archdiocese of Cotabato’s social action programs, basic ecclesial communities and interreligious dialogues to realize the two things,” the 75-year-old Quevedo said.

He said he had tasked missionary Fr. Bert Layson of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) to push for the development of the culture of peace.

To boost efforts toward a culture of peace in Mindanao, Quevedo said Church-run schools should also include or integrate into their curriculum the culture of peace campaign.

Fr. Lauro de Guia, OMI’s Philippine superior, said the congregation, which runs some of the country’s Notre Dame schools, was aware of the fact that there had to be efforts to educate people on “mutual respect for the right to one’s identity” and that there should be “continuing dialogues and consultations leading to the establishment of a Bangsamoro government that would 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 also earlier said “true peace can never be had unless we rid ourselves of biases and prejudices, and learn to respect and coexist with one another.”

Quevedo considered the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in Malacañang on Thursday 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 members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission are crafting must have in its declaration of principles the promotion and protection of, as defined, “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 detriment to lasting peace, other peace advocates raised the issue on pride and greed.

“Contentment and humility are virtues of peace in the real sense of the word,” 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. Edwin Fernandez and Charlie Señase, Inquirer Mindanao