A Press Release of the Ranao Watch for Good Governance
under the Chairmanship of Ibra G. Macapanton, LLB taken and published
by the “Lanao Association of Media Practitioners.”

 

Marawi City, Philippines-The Ranao Watch for Good Governance, under the Chairmanship of Ibra G. Macapanton, based in Marawi City has released the following official statement in the recent situation in Mindanao.

For more than 300 years, the Bangsamoro People had been struggling  for  a “Right to self-determination”  sanctioned by no less than the very Charter of the United Nations.  Hundred Thousand of Bangsamoro precious lives periled in this quest for justice and freedom.

The Bangsamoro People are peace loving nations, whose dreams and aspirations is for them to chart their political status, economic and cultural aspiration as a separate and distinct people, with all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications in its struggle for justice and freedom or self determination.

In 1996 and in all out support for peace, the Bangsamoro through the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under the leadership of Prof. Nur Misuari forge a Peace accord with the Philippine government with every  hope that peace will finally flourish in Mindanao and the fruits of development will redounded to the benefits of Mindanao populace (Muslim and Christian alike).  After a period of 14 years from the time of signing of the peace accord the GRP and MNLF could not even agree on the degree of implementation of the 1996 Peace Accord which prompted the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)  to host a Tripartite Committee Meetings to ascertain the implementation and remain unsolved up to this date, not to mention the untimely arrest of MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari.

 

With all apprehension, that 1996 Peace Accord will not solve the Bangsamoro problem much more to be fully implemented, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) came into play in pursuit of peace and self determination, for the Bangsamoro People.  Again, in 2001, an agreement between the GRP and MILF was signed in Tripoli called the 2001 Tripoli Agreement that pave the way for GRP and MILF to set down in a negotiating table.

After more than Eleven (11) years of talking in a negotiating table mediated by the International Monitoring Team (IMT) headed by Malaysia, a consensus was reached initialed  by both parties known as the Final Draft of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) which was then scheduled to be signed  by principal of both parties last  August 5,2008 in Kualalumpur, Malaysia, yet, the same was overran by the issuance of  a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court on the petition of Vice Governor Penol of North Cotabato, City Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City and City  Mayor Lawrence LI. Cruz of Iligan City, followed by a lot of opposition from those who favored violence at the expense of the Mindanao populace (Muslim and Christian alike) by giving misleading information’s about the MOA-AD.  But then let me invite your attention and look who are talking.

With these allow us to ask these questions to those opposing the MOA-AD and therefore opposing peace in Mindanao:

1.    What do you know about the Bangsamoro problem?
2.    Are you part of the solution or problem itself?
3.    Where are you for the almost 12 years, why only now?
4.    By conscience can you be candid enough to do one (1) good thing
        for the Bangsamoro?
5.    To our National Leaders, are we not part of the people voted you
        that deserves to be served?

The Suffering now being felt by the Mindanao populace (Muslim and Christian alike) could have been avoided if, we have “Given a chance for peace to flourish in Mindanao”, at the end of the day and by conscience, we know where we stand, as the bangsamoro knew that they stand for the truth and nothing but the truth, so help us Allah.

Done in Marawi City, Philippines August 28,2008.

Signed by: IBRA G. Macapanton, Chair, RANAO WATCH for good Governance
                   Cell No. 09197550879
                   052 Pangarungan Village
                   Marawi City