Peace deal should be studied with critical caution

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate today said that “Bayan Muna advocates for a just and lasting solution to the Bangsamoro issue in Mindanao.  A comprehensive peace settlement is always welcome if this will truly address the historical wrongs committed against the Moro people.

“While the GPH and the MILF  hailed the  completion and signing of the final annex of the framework agreement, we view this development with critical caution as we still have to examine closely the text and context of the present agreement and the proposed basic law that will be submitted to Congress by the Transitional Commission,” the progressive solon added.

“We must also guard now that so that the peace deal may not become a Trojan horse for Charter change proponents, this is unquestionably bad and dangerous. This further highlights the need to closely scrutinize the framework agreement and its annexes as the same may be used by the

unscrupulous groups and individuals with sinister interests,” explained Rep. Zarate.

“It is very easy to be swept in the euphoria that attended the recent signing of final annex to the framework agreement.   But we have to be reminded that that at least two (2) peace agreements  have already be signed in the past between the government  and the Moro revolutionary groups which were also euphorically hailed then as the final solution to the Bangsamoro’s assertion of self-determination,” he added.

“Also, the Philippine government has a history of betraying the Moro and indigenous peoples, promising them genuine autonomy but actually undermining and subverting the autonomy and national sovereignty by allowing US and foreign corporations and big business and landlords  oppress, exploit and impoverish the Moro, the indigenous and the Filipino people as a whole,” said the House minority member.

“The agreement apparently glosses over major issues affecting the Moro people, like the gross human rights violations due to militarization in Mindanao, the exclusion of other groups in the process like the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Lumad people.  There is also the unresolved issue of the full implementation of the GRP-MNLF 1996 Final Peace Agreement,” he said.

“We have to examine closely the text and context of the present agreement and the proposed basic law that will be submitted to Congress by the Transitional Commission. It is our belief that for the Bangsamoro, for  Mindanao,  for the country to attain genuine peace and development, we have to address the root causes of poverty, under development and exploitation in all its facets,” ended Rep. Zarate. (@dcherald/PR)