Former adversaries unite for peace
ILIGAN CITY, May 22, 2019 – Nobody imagined this day would come.
All of them were seated side by side, as they exchanged views and shared anecdotes like old-time friends.
Transitioning from soldier to peace-builder
QUEZON CITY (30 April 2019) – What does it take to become a leader? How does one rise up to the challenges it presents?
Putting weapons beyond use: Former fighters and their families now ready for decommissioning
Babu Psung, 60, from Sultan Sa Barongis, Maguindanao, was among the hundreds of Bangsamoro residents who witnessed the inauguration of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao yesterday. She is the wife of a grizzled MILF combatant.
Student grantees call for peace promotion through education
KORONADAL CITY, December 04, 2018 — “Pinanganak ako sa giyera. Hindi nakakatulong ang conflict kasi maraming bata ang hindi nakakapag-aral dahil natatakot sila sa mga terorista.”
(I was born in war. Conflict does not help promote education because children are scared of the terrorists.) (more…)
HEAR MINDANAO – STATEMENT ON THE IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF THE ENHANCED BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW (BBL)
HEAR MINDANAO
STATEMENT ON THE IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF THE ENHANCED BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW (BBL)
The Blue Bridge firmly and earnestly supports the immediate passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) with the belief on its unequivocal aspiration of harboring peace on our beloved land of Mindanao. The publication strongly believes that with the full implementation of its signed agreements, the long standing distress of conflicts and violent extremism suffered by the innocent will be addressed and given resolution.
As peace advocates, we believe that the agreement will correct the history of the islands, stained by injustices. We place our faith on the legislators to urgently pass the law to further assemble the foundation of lasting peace that for decades, have constrained the Mindanaons to conflict and inequity.
We urge the student community of Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School to elevate the works for peace both in offline and online platforms. It is time to liberate the Land of Promise from years of terror brought by divisiveness.
We stand with our brothers and sisters who plead for no more wars and bullets. There is no better time to let social justice prevail than now.
A Joint Statement of All Ateneo Presidents on the Proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law
(The following is a joint statement of all Ateneo presidents on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law)
The Ateneo presidents join the call for the immediate passage of the proposed Enhanced Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as drafted by the expanded Bangsamoro Transition Committee (BTC). This version hews closest to the genuine aspirations of Filipino Muslims and other marginalized sectors in Mindanao for lasting peace based on justice, economic growth, and social equity.
The law’s passage would provide a real and meaningful foundation for countering violent extremism and addressing the many other conflicts in Mindanao. We implore our legislators not to delay such passage any further.
We again express moral approval of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and the Expanded BTC version of the Enhanced BBL. Our Catholic faith and Jesuit tradition call us to tread the pathways taken by the Prince of Peace, daring us to embrace multi-cultural openness and inter-religious dialogue.
No doubt, the journey to peace and justice remains long and difficult. But there is light that beckons at the end of the long, dark tunnel for beloved Mindanao. What the Ateneo presidents said in a joint statement on the BBL in 2015, when the law was first brought to the Philippine Senate, bears repeating: “The establishment of a Muslim region in Mindanao that is truly autonomous is mandated by the Constitution as a social justice imperative. Let this social justice no longer be postponed.”
Filipino Version
Nakikiisa ang mga pangulo ng mga pamantasang Ateneo sa Pilipinas sa panawagang isabatas agad ang mungkahing Enhanced Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) na ipinanunukala ng pinalawak na Bangsamoro Transition Committee (BTC). Ang bersyong ito ng panukalang batas ang pinakamalapit sa mga tunay na inaasam ng mga kapatid nating Filipino Muslim at iba pang mga napag-iwanang sektor sa Mindanao para sa pangmatagalang kapayapaang batay sa katarungan, paglago ng ekonomiya, at panlipunang pagkakapantay-pantay.
Mailalatag ng batas na ito ang tunay at makabuluhang pundasyon upang kontrahin ang marahas na extremismo at tugunan ang samu’t-sari pang tunggalian sa Mindanao. Sumasamo kaming huwag nang ipagpaliban pa ng ating mga mambabatas ang pagpasa ng batas na ito.
Muli naming ipinahahayag ang moral naming pagsang-ayon sa napagkasunduan nang Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, at ang Enhanced BBL na ito. Nananawagan sa amin ang aming pananampalatayang Katoliko at ang tradisyong Heswita na lakbayin ang landas na tinahak ni Hesukristong Panginoon ng Kapayapaan, na humahamon sa ating yakapin ang pagiging bukas sa sama-samang pag-iral ng iba’t ibang kultura, at ang pagdidiyalogo ng iba’t ibang relihiyon.
Tiyak na mahaba at mahirap pa ang paglalakbay na ito tungo sa pagkamit ng kapayapaan at katarungan. Ngunit nababanaagan na ang liwanag sa dulo ng mahaba’t madilim na lagusan para sa minamahal nating Mindanao. Inuulit namin ang naipahayag na noong 2015 ng mga pangulo ng mga Ateneo nang unang talakayin ang BBL sa Senado: “The establishment of a Muslim region in Mindanao that is truly autonomous is mandated by the Constitution as a social justice imperative. Let this social justice no longer be postponed.” (Ang pagtatatag ng isang rehiyong tunay na awtonomus para sa mga kababayang Muslim sa Mindanao ay itinatakda ng Saligang Batas upang isulong ang katarungang panlipunan. Huwag nang patagalin pa ang pagkamit nitong katarungang panlipunan.)
ad majorem Dei gloriam,
Fr. Karel S. San Juan, S.J. (President, Ateneo de Zamboanga University)
Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J. (President, Ateneo de Davao University)
Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J. (President, Ateneo de Manila University)
Fr. Roberto Exequiel N. Rivera, S.J. (President, Ateneo de Naga University)
Fr. Roberto C. Yap, S.J. (President, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan)
Salita’t Siyasat Peace Conversation: A meeting of the minds
DAVAO CITY—It was a “face-off.” A friendly face-off, that is.
For three hours, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza took the “hot seat,” as he engaged senior high school students of the Ateneo de Davao University in a spirited discussion on a range of peace and security issues. (more…)
Speech of MILF Chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim during the Launch of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the first Mindanaoan President of the Republic, Secretary Jesus “Jess” Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Members of the Cabinet and other officials of Government, Local Government, Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of the MILF Central Committee and fellow mujahedeen, Brothers from the MNLF, Traditional Leaders, Sectoral Leaders, CSO’s, Media, distinguished Guests; Brothers, sisters, friends, ladies and gentlemen, let me extend to you our fraternal greetings of peace,
Assalamo Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh, very good afternoon:
Speech of the MILF Chairman on the Occasion of the Launch of the New BTC
Speech of the MILF Chairman on the Occasion of the Launch of the New BTC
Water Front Hotel, Davao City | 24 February 2017
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the first Mindanaoan President of the Republic, Secretary Jesus “Jess” Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Members of the Cabinet and other officials of Government, Local Government, Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of the MILF Central Committee and fellow mujahedeen, Brothers from the MNLF, Traditional Leaders, Sectoral Leaders, CSO’s, Media, distinguished Guests; Brothers, sisters, friends, ladies and gentlemen, let me extend to you our fraternal greetings of peace,
Assalamo Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh, very good afternoon:
Once again, we are gathered on this historic day for the launch, or more accurately, the re-launch of an expanded Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC). The creation of the BTC as the joint mechanism to write a proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law that will translate the provisions of the peace agreement into law was agreed by the parties more than two years ago when we signed the historic Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
The CAB is a comprehensive attempt to resolve the Bangsamoro Question, or as the President puts it more succinctly, an attempt to redress the historical injustice committed against the Moro People. As such it builds on the gains of previous peace agreements and preserves them while consciously addressing the gaps of the President to converge the peace agreements. It is our unyielding belief that we can work with our brothers and sisters from the MNLF.
As we re-launch the BTC today we rekindle the hope of thousands of our people for a peaceful and progressive Bangsamoro even if we are occasionally gripped by sadness at the failure earlier to pass the BBL. We must look back at those experiences, not with bitterness, but with an examining eye so that we may dissect the problems and address them. We must come out better prepared this time to respond to the challenges of legislation. The Filipino people must equally stand prepared to accept us as partners in achieving peace and progress, not only for this region but for the entire country.
Perhaps, this second chance is the best second chance anyone could possibly have. We stand today at a historic moment in our journey as a country where for the first time in over a hundred year of existence of this republic, we have today the first President from Mindanao, President Rodrigo Duterte. We also have the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bebot Alvarez who is also from Mindanao. The Senate President, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel II is also from Mindanao.
But far more substantial than this, we feel more confident in achieving a lasting solution today to the Moro Question than at any other time in our struggle, because we have a President who understands the history and root cause of the Moro Question. We note with great appreciation his speeches and commitment during the campaign of addressing the historical injustices committed against the Moro People. We watch with awe his bold pronouncements, I am sure, have endeared him to our people and so it is no surprise that the Moro people came in droves to vote for him.
And so, it is my firm belief that the launch today of the BTC is an important initial step in the many steps that we will have to take to address the historical injustice committed against our people. Along the way, I expect the BTC to encounter challenges. We must approach this challenges conscious not only of the sacredness of the peace agreement we forged but also of the opportunity as well to demonstrate that the three branches of our government can all work together to contribute in the epoch-making task of bring peace finally to our country. This unique opportunity is provided by the Constitution for the Executive to negotiate peace; for the Legislative to enact peace legislation; and for the Supreme Court to rule on constitutional issues for peace.
I am sure our challenges do not begin, nor end with the above, but for as long as we remain committed to implementing the peace agreement we signed, I am confident that we can surmount these challenges.
In closing, let me reiterate our message then of unity:
To our fellow brothers from the MNLF, let us close ranks and find strength in the convergence of our peace agreements.
To our fellow Mindanaoans, let us assert self-rule while committing to shared rule.
To the three branches of the government, let us demonstrate not just independence but interdependence as well so that we may all contribute to peace in our land.
To the Supreme Court, let us interpret the law, so that the ends of justice and equity as well.
May peace reign in the Bangsamoro. May peace reign in Mindanao. May peace reign in the country. May peace be unto you all. Thank you.
Wassalam.
Message of the Community of Sant’Egidio to GRP and MILF on the occasion of the Launch of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission Davao City, February 24th, 2017
The Community of Sant’Egidio hails with joy and congratulates the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for the Launch of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission which will be held in Davao on the coming February 24th, 2017.
Sant’Egidio hopes that the BTA work can decisively contribute to the full and effective re-establishment of peace with justice in the entire Mindanao area. In recognizing the importance of this historic moment for the Philippines, the Community of Sant’Egidio remains at the service of this important process of reconciliation, which today begins a new phase, that of its implementation by including all the different social, religious and civil realities.
As International Contact Group member of the Peace Talks, we also declare our full and continuous availability to offer generously our contribution to every possible facilitation of the peace process and of the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, urgent and valuable to Bangsamoro itself and, consequently, to the entire beloved country of the Philippines.
We are firmly convinced that true peace will be possible if everyone, ethnic and religious groups, political factions, local administrations, each minority of the whole of Mindanao, wants and can participate in its democratic and synergic construction. Peace will be authentic if it will be peace for all. The inclusion of everyone is crucial, at a social and political level, majorities and minorities, but all with the right to be represented.
With these feelings we would like to wish the parties a good work and a full success while we confirm that we remain your fellow travelers in the path toward a full peace.
Rome, February 23, 2017
Prof. Alberto Quattrucci
Secretary General P&R
Community of Sant’Egidio
