Bishops Welcome Resumption of GRP-MILF Peace Talks

MANILA, August 20, 2009- Amidst plans to revive the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a Catholic bishop asked the government peace panel to avoid the same mistake it did in the past.

According to Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, the government must take into consideration last year's Supreme Court decision on the Memorandum of Agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD), which it ruled as being "unconstitutional".

"They should use that (SC ruling) as . . . guidelines on how to do it this time and make sure na yung mga ni-rule as unconstitutional ay hindi na maulit pa," Iñiguez said.

In October 2008, the High Court outlawed the MOA-AD, aimed at giving full independence to the provinces that will be covered by the treaty through the creation of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity.

The government has already said they are already working for the resumption of the peace negotiations with the Moro separatist group as soon as possible.

Last Tuesday, though, government panel chair and Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis related that third party facilitator, Malaysia, has decided to push back the scheduled informal talks in a bid to have more time to study proposals from the two camps.

The prelate said the Church is in full support of the plans to revive the talks if only to find peace in Mindanao.

"Anytime, the peace talks may continue naman e. It is the most appropriate venue talaga," Iñiguez said.

Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo earlier called for prayers for peace in Mindanao.

The CBCP head said the nation's prayer for Mindanao is important especially since the peace and order situation in the Southern Philippines is important to the whole country. (CBCPNews)