By Gloria Jane Baylon
Pledging to do his part in the development of Mindanao, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay on Thursday appealed to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to give peace talks a chance, reiterating that the government is “serious in pursuing lasting peace in Mindanao.”
“I appeal to the MILF to give the peace talks a chance. Countless innocent civilians, both Muslims and Christians, have suffered from the conflict,” Binay said in a statement released by his media handlers.
“We will address the housing problem of Muslim Filipinos, especially in rebuilding the homes that were destroyed in the past conflicts,” the HUDCC chair said.
The government-MILF talks that were officially terminated in June toward the end of the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has not yet reopened under President Benigno C. Aquino III, causing MILF chair Al-Haj Murad on Wednesday to fidget and to express his pessimism about its resumption even after the Ramadan.
Presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Q. Deles, has said that peace talks will resume — when the Ramadan feasting is over -- but gave no other details. When this time frame was mentioned, the MILF had said it was ready to begin talks even during the Ramadan.
Binay’s pledge to look into the housing situation of Filipino Muslims, among others, followed Murad’s threats of a possible resumption of armed conflict should the talks collapse.
The MILF has complained of decades of alleged social, economic and political negligence and discrimination by the central government in Manila.
Binay said that in his concurrent capacity as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), he will address the housing situation of Filipino Muslims.
He has appointed Muslim actor Robin Padilla as his emissary who will dialogue with Muslims on Mindanao.
Both Binay and Padilla appear to have high credibility among the Muslim population of about three million.
Binay earned large votes from Central Mindanao that helped him win the Vice Presidency. When Padilla, an ardent Muslim convert who even went on leave from his television program in observance of Ramadan, goes to Mindanao, people there listen and are in awe of him.
"Economic growth has been elusive, especially in Muslim Mindanao. It is time for us to come together and arrive at a shared agreement that would lead to lasting peace and development,” he added.
“I am sure that we are all committed to the development of Mindanao. The end of armed conflict is key to bringing development and economic growth to the region,” he said.
He added: “Exploring peaceful means to end the decades-long conflict would benefit us all, especially the future generations of Filipinos.” (PNA/PIA9-BST)
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