JEDDAH: The United Bangsaranao Council (UBC) has called for an immediate cease-fire in Mindanao, in the wake of the displacement and suffering of 600,000 people as a result of ongoing fighting between the military and units identified with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The UBC — which comprises 32 OFW Maranao organizations in the Kingdom’s western region whose members’ relatives and properties are directly affected by the conflict — made the call during a recently held meeting in Jeddah.
In a petition, which has been signed by Maranao community organizations, the UBC requested Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, Vice President Noli De Castro and other high-ranking officials in the Philippine Senate to order an immediate cease-fire.
One of the signatories said during the meeting that the Philippine government has already spent P500m searching for two MILF commanders, adding that this amount could have been be used to develop the area.
The calls follow another request made by an OFW group in Riyadh on Sept. 2.
