The organizers of Paminaw Mindanao, however, are unfazed over the absence of the other candidates. Miclat said in a convener’s meeting last Wednesday at the HCDC e-Library that the forum will proceed.

“We are okay with the four,” Miclat said, citing the attendance of the four presidential candidates who committed will do as the forum will provide them opportunity to present their platforms to the constituencies of the nine convening groups.

Dr. Iris Melliza, president of HCDC and one of the forum moderators, said the group has to decline proxies like spokespersons. She cited the possibility of artificial representation and content.

“We have to see them, how they look like, how they compose themselves in addressing the issues,” she said during the meeting also attended by Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, who is one of the conveners of the Bishop’s Ulama Conference (BUC), one of the nine groups behind the forum. Capalla will give the opening remarks during the forum.

As a supplement, the organizers will screen a video documentary produced by MindaNews on six presidential candidates’ stand on Mindanao issues. The video includes interviews of Aquino, Estrada, Gordon, Perlas, Teodoro, and Villar.

The conveners explained in a press statement that the upcoming May elections is a watershed for the country, even more for Mindanao where voters have decades-old search for peace.

Of all the posts being contested, the conveners said in a press release, it is the Presidency that is the most coveted, being obviously the most powerful. The president sets down policies, the tone and conduct of the government.

“We have invited all candidates running for President to tell us what they seriously consider to be their priorities for Mindanao when they are elected. This dialogue-forum attempts to ensure that Mindanao is in the forefront of the platform of government of the next President,” they added.

The forum is jointly organized by the BUC; IID; Kusog Mindanaw; Mindanao Association of State Colleges and Universities Foundation (MASCUF); Mindanao Commission on Women (MCW); Mindanao Business Council (MinBC); Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW); National Ulama Conference of the Philippines (NUCP) and the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID).

IID said they are expecting 5,000 sectoral representatives from parishes, the academe, civil society, business, women, indigenous peoples, the Bangsamoro communities, and the youth to attend the forum.

Presidential aspirants would be given 15 minutes each to present their platforms. They would also be given time to answer questions from the moderator and from representatives of the different sectors, including the business community, the education sector, the indigenous peoples, the youth, the urban poor, and others.

Aside from the sectoral crowd, Melliza announced that HCDC will suspend classes for thousands of its students in the summer term to attend the forum.

Miclat said sources from the camps of rivals senators Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party and Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party have been sending feedback to invitations that they want a two-way debate, not a forum with other candidates.

The LP camp, he added, has sent word they would at least send a video presentation of Aquino’s message and possibly, answers to questions to be asked in the forum.

He noted that Villar’s campaign coordinators in Mindanao have provided them “no information” on the senator’s attendance after inviting him through channel.

Former President Joseph Estrada could not come but his camp informed organizers they are deciding on whether to send his personal spokesperson or that of his Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). Organizers admitted having no direct contact with both senators Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan and independent candidate Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal.

More candidates have attended the presidential forum in March organized by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of Jesus the Name Above All Name religious group.

Held at the group’s headquarters, the forum was attended by Estrada, Gordon, Madrigal, Perlas Teodoro, and Villanueva.

In the Ateneo de Davao University presidential forum also last month, the candidates who attended were De los Reyes, Gordon, Madrigal, Perlas, Teodoro, and Villanueva. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

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