Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The peace process in Mindanao should continue despite the Maguindanao bloodbath which saw 44 commandos of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP-SAF) killed in line with duty, a Malacañang official said Saturday.
Presidential Communications Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the road to peace must continue in the Mindanao to end the decades-long armed struggle in southern Philippines.
“When the President delivered a speech on Wednesday and even in his speech yesterday, he reminded the importance of understanding why we need to continue to work to attain lasting peace,” Coloma said in Filipino in an interview on state-run dzRB radio.
The Place official also issued the statement amid reports that 43 of Aquino’s allied congressmen threatened to withdraw from their support of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Asked if Aquino has plans to discuss the matter with his allies in Congress, Coloma said the President has no plans yet.
He, however, assured that the government is ready to coordinate and listen to all sectors for suggestions to deepen the coordination on the BBL.
He added that many of the country’s leaders still believe in the government’s peace process in Mindanao despite the carnage in Mamasapano town in Maguinadanao.
“Marami sa ating leader nagpahayag ng paniwala kailangan pa rin tahakin ang landas sa pangmatagalang kapayapaan,” he said.
(Many of our leaders still believe the need to take the path to long-lasting peace.)
On March 27 2014, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
On Friday, January 30, the government and MILF signed the pact to decommission Moro rebels’ firearms.
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