By Michael
Vincent D. Cajulao
ZAMBOANGA CITY – “The option of the MILF is
only for peace,” Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Mohaqer Iqbal
said in a recent public hearing here on the ongoing peace talks with the
Philippine Government.
Iqbal said
with the negotiation now in place, war and conflict is never an option to
attain lasting peace in Mindanao.
“The
option for the MILF is only peace, so that whatever circumstances are in our
locality, we always pursue peace because war is not an option,” Iqbal stressed.
Iqbal
pointed out that to achieve peace both parties should find the real solution to
the problems in Mindanao.
“Even if
there are lots of agreements, if we don’t find the real solution we will always
find conflict in Mindanao. But for as long as we find the real solution to the
problem in Mindanao, Inshallah (God willing), there will be peace in Mindanao,”
he said.
Iqbal
added that once the solution is found “those groups who continue to fight the
government will no longer have cause to fight for there is already peace. So,
please let us not give up on peace because this is the only option.”