Senator Mar Roxas on the GRP-Moro Islamic Liberation Front MoA Issue

A few days back, we posted our view on Arroyo Federalism and the 2010 Charter Change talk, and how the President regarded it as “a way to ensure long lasting peace in Mindanao”. This time around, let’s hear from one of our top officials, Senator Mar Roxas.

“The situation spawned by the Memorandum of Agreement between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines has taken on a life of its own. Amidst the violence that has rocked Mindanao these past few days, talk of Charter Change has captured the whole country’s attention.”

Here’s a summary of Senator Mar Roxas‘ Speech on the GRP-Moro Islamic Liberation Front MoA Issue:

1. This MoA violates at least three major articles of our Constitution. Unang pahina pa lang, hindi na papasa ito sa Saligang Batas.

a. Rather than respect our national territory, this MoA breaks it up into smaller bits.
b. Rather than uphold the ideal that all government authority emanates from the people, this government entered into an agreement that would partition our country without prior consultations with the people of Mindanao.
c. Rather than uphold one sovereign people enjoying the equal protection of law, the MoA effectively splits the citizenry in two.

2. We had wanted peace and security achieved through these negotiations. Instead, we are on the brink of war. Government functionaries are making lame excuses for their bungling of a peace process that has spawned war rather than peace. None have spoken to stand by this MoA on the basis of reason and statesmanship; instead, its proponents have resorted to fingerpointing.

3. I demand complete transparency regarding this agreement. I call upon the government to step out from behind the veil of generalizations; to let the people know, completely and without qualification, its intentions and strategies concerning the situation in Mindanao.

4. I urge the government to enforce the equal protection of laws now. I call upon the President to revamp her entire peace team, including her peace adviser and peace panel. I call upon the Armed Forces to enforce order in accordance with the principles of the constitution. And I call upon all parties to the conflict to stand down and pave the way a renegotiation of the MOA.

5. More than anything else, I urge the government to do its utmost best to keep the nation whole. To keep the great ideals of our country: One territory, one sovereign people under the equal protection of the laws.

6. The answer is not in further shattering this ideal of one Philippine nation. And this has nothing to do with religion or ethnic boundaries. We are all for peace. The answer is in rebuilding our nation so that none feel neglected for the sake of others.

For the transcript of Sen. Mar Roxas’ speech, click here: Sen. Mar Roxas Priviledge Speech on MILF-GRP MoA.

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Comments

2 Responses to “Senator Mar Roxas on the GRP-Moro Islamic Liberation Front MoA Issue”

YahooBot (Who am I?) on November 11th, 2008 7:06 pm
Nice site, thanks for information!
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HairyMan (Who am I?) on November 12th, 2008 12:57 am
Not bad… Not bad.
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2.5