COTABATO CITY  (MindaNews/10 November) – Doubts have been expressed about forging a peace agreement before the Arroyo presidency ends but ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan is optimistic that “with the strong political will of (Pres. Arroyo), we can anticipate the possible conclusion of the peace negotiation within the term of the President.”

The Arroyo administration has only seven months left until June 30, 2010, but starting mid-February, focus is expected to shift to the national election campaign so it is likely that the peace panels – both in the GRP-MNLF (Government of the Republic of the Philippines-Moro National Liberation Front) and in the GRP-MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) have only from November 2009 to mid-February 2010, to work on the peace process, take away a few more days for Christmas break.

“What is your basis for optimism?” Ampatuan was asked.

“Unang-una,  from the very start, programa po ni PGMA (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) yung peace process. Isa po sa major thrusts ng kanyang administrasayon ay magkaroon ng tunay na kapayapaan at kaunlaran. Tayo po ay naniniwala na bilang isang pangulo, na ang pinag-iisipan nya ay yung bagay na makakabuti s a mga mamamayan hindi lang sa ARMM kundi sa buong Mindanao,” (First of all, from the very start this has been the program of President Arroyo, the peace process. One of the major thrusts of her administration is to have genuine peace and development. We believe that as President, her concern is what would be best for the country not just for ARMM but for the entire Mindanao), he told reporters at his office after delivering his 35-minute State of the Region Address  (SORA) Monday afternoon. 

ARMM is a constitutionally-mandated region, constituted following a plebiscite in November 1989, where four Moro dominated provinces – Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur – voted for inclusion.

It started operations in 1990, following the elections in March and has had five elected governors: Zacaria Candao (1990 – 1993); Liningding Pangandaman (1993-1996); Nur Misuari (1996-late 2001); Parouk Hussein (2002 to 2005); and Ampatuan (2005-2008; 2008 – ongoing).

In his SORA, Ampatuan said the ARMM is a “hard-earned geo-political institution established by law to serve the interest of the Bangsamoro people.”

“The present ARMM is entrusted to us by the people, not only once but twice.  We do hope and pray that we are worthy of their continuing trust and confidence in us. We all know that the dream and aspiration of the Bangsamoro people continue to live to this day. Therefore, as Regional Governor, it is my duty to protect this institution and to make it work better under the present set-up. It is in this light that, we will continue to strengthen the institutional structure of regional autonomy to make it more responsive to our needs, ideals and aspirations as Bangsamoro people,” he said.

“Today’s event is a reaffirmation of our resolve and dedication to continue serving our people with better services they deserve most within the limits of our powers and authorities, and the resources available to us,” Ampatuan said.

In the review of the GRP-MNLF peace agreement and in the negotiations with the MILF,  the institution that would be affected would be the ARMM as it is the core for an expanded autonomous region as the MNLF envisioned, and the core as well for the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity as envisioned by the MILF.

When a reporter asked if  what he meant by “protect this institution” is that he would push for “full consultation of all stakeholders, including the ARMM,” Ampatuan said, “from the very start, sinsuportahan po natin ang (we have been supporting the) peace process. Kahit anong posisyon natin,  o kahit sino man sa atin ay may pinakamataas na position, ang problema pa rin natin ay kapayapaan. (Whatever is our position, or whoever among us holds the highest position, the problem remains peace). Kaya po ako ay naniniwala na hindi lamang bilang isang gobernador ng ARMM, kundi lahat tayo ay pwdeng makilam at kailangang makialam para lamang magkaroon tayo ng tunay na kapayapaan sa Mindanao (That’s why I believe that it is only not as ARMM Governor, but all of us can participate and should participate so we can have genuine peace in Mindanao.”

MindaNews asked if he would still sacrifice his post for the sake of peace, as he vowed he’d do before he became governor and when he became governor.

During the campaign period in 2005, Ampatuan told MindaNews that among his wishes for Mindanao is peace. “As a public official, as a resident of  the ARMM, I support the peace initiatives of our leadership so we can have genuine peace for our brothers in the MILF. In fact, when I spoke in Zamboanga City, when I met with the leaders of the island provinces, I said that if I and my running mate are given the chance to lead the ARMM as governor and vice governor, respectively, if within our term a peace agreement would be forged, in the name of unity and peace, in the name of the Bangsamoro, in the name of Islam, we are willing to sacrifice our posts for the Bangsamoro,” he said.

“Hanggang ngayon ganyan pa rin ang stand natin. (That is still our stand),” Ampatuan said during the press conference Monday. 

But he added, “Gayunpaman, may security of tenure ang ating termino matatapos come September 30, 2011. (Nonetheless, there’s a security of tenure and our term will end September 30, 2011. Second, Hindi pa rin nagbago ang ating point of view na kung ang ikalulutas ng problema sa Mindanao , specially sa ARMM ay magsakripisyo tayo, wala akong problema. Nandito ako pinili ako ng tao, hindi ako nandito bilang – tao ang bumoto sa akin pag sabihin ng mamamayan na kailangan magsakripisyo ka, yan ang gagawin natin.(Second, my point of view has not changed that if the solution to the problem in Mindanao, especially in the ARMM is for us to sacrifice, I have no problem. I am here, I was chosen by the people. The people voted me. If the people say we need to sacrifice, that’s what I’d do).  [Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews]

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