MILF chair: Let’s guard peace gains

Murad Ibrahim. AFP FILE PHOTO

BULUAN, Philippines — Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Ebrahim Murad said that the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro embodied the dreams of Moro revolutionary forces.

“This is the main reason why the gains of the peace process should be closely guarded to ensure its success,” Murad said in a message read for him by Muhammad Ameen, chair of the MILF secretariat, during Sunday’s grand kanduli (thanksgiving banquet) here.

Murad said that MILF negotiators drew lessons from past agreements – which failed – to achieve what were stipulated in the CAB.

He said the signed agreement that would become basis for the Bangsamoro Basic Law opened up the opportunity to the Bangsamoro’s quest for justice, peace, reconciliation and prosperity.

“So let us all stand together for the CAB,” Murad said.

Hopes are high for the newly signed agreement, according to Mangudadatu.

“The war destroyed so many dreams, so many lives. A lot of opportunities for the Moro people were lost,” he said.

Mangudadatu said that with the signing of the CAB, a better future for the Moro people could soon be realized.

“With our support as one people, this would succeed,” he said and then asked the dozens of people attending the grand kanduli here if they would support the BBL in the 2016 plebiscite.

“Allah Hu Akbar (Allah is Great)” was what he got in return, to which he replied: “Sukran (Thank you).”

Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu said he grew waking up to the sound of gun and the wails of mothers.

“We the current leaders are supporting the CAB because we have experienced war first hand when we were young. Pagod na rin kami sa gulo. Kawawa ang mga mahihirap lalo pa naghihirap (We’re tired of war. Pitiful are the poor who become poorer),” he said in his speech.

Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles shared the optimism of Maguindanao leaders about peace by saying “in the past, it was just in the horizon; now it’s in our fingertips.”

“This is an agreement that will bridge us towards peace and prosperity. This is our legacy to the next generation,” Deles said.

But Deles said like a kite, the peace agreement could not fly without the needed wind.

“Saranggola can’t fly without air, a country could also not soar without unity,” she said.

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