OIC’s support for peace in Mindanao
“We feel — on both sides (the Philippine government and the Moro fronts) — the sincere desire, and the serious effort to reach a conclusion,” Madani said, adding that, “We are optimistic. We are supportive.” This declaration of support is critical and timely considering that both the Senate and the House of Representatives have resumed its hearings on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. The OIC is the second largest inter-governmental organization, next to the United Nations.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is a party to the ongoing peace process with the Philippine government, broke away from the Moro National Liberation Front when the latter signed a peace agreement with the government. The MILF is the biggest organized Muslim rebel group in Mindanao with around 12,000 members. Some parties within the MNLF has questioned the need for a new peace agreement citing the unimplemented provisions of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement that it signed with the government.
Historically, the OIC has been an active supporter, if not adviser, to the MNLF, given the long history that led to the signing of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement. It has enormous influence over the Moro groups, as gleaned from the complete attendance of MNLF and MILF leaders in a meeting convened by OIC Secretary-General Madani in Davao City.
In his statement to the media, the OIC Secretary General said, “I’m not here to be the first (OIC secretary general to visit Mindanao). I’m here to show that we are concerned. We are supportive.” That expression of concern and support was imparted to all the key officials involved in the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Madani also met with President Benigno Simeon Aquino III who is the primary champion of the Mindanao peace process as well as with Secretaries Albert del Rosario of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Teresita Deles, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. President Benigno Simeon Aquino III met and warmly welcomed the OIC delegation led by Secretary General Madani in Malacanang. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said that this was the first bilateral meeting about the peace process between President Aquino and the new OIC Secretary General.
On the part of the DFA, Undersecretary Rafael Seguis had this to say about the OIC’s visit: “We acknowledge the role played by the OIC in the peace process since the peace negotiations with the MNLF which resulted in the 1996 Final Peace Agreement. Secretary General Madani’s reaffirmation of OIC’s full support to the Bangsamoro peace process has provided the impetus for it to move forward to a successful conclusion.”
Secretary Deles said the visit of Madani shows OIC’s firm commitment to help in the current peace efforts in Mindanao. “OIC has contributed so much to the peace process since the Tripoli accord and now more than ever, Filipinos both Muslims and Christians look to you for guidance and support to open a new era of social peace and progress in Mindanao,” she told Madani during the meeting.
The visit of the OIC delegation is a timely reminder to legislators that the peace agreement in Mindanao is not just a parochial concern, but an aspiration shared and supported by the international community. It would be the height of irresponsibility to merely junk the draft law, without taking giant and urgent strides to amend or enhance its features. Discussions on the Bangsamoro Basic Law must be done using a visionary lens, rather than political opportunism tied to the next round of political surveys.
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