By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA
CITY , Basilan – Basilan
Bishop Martin S. Jumoad, DD appealed to Bangsamoro stakeholders to uphold the
respect for religion and other cultures in Basilan.
The
Basilan Bishop made the appeal as the government was about to forge the final
peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with the historic
signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in Malacañang
palace yesterday.
“We
welcome the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. But the
Bangsamoro stakeholders, especially those who will implement the agreement must
remember the basic concepts of the agreement, i.e. it must be inclusive and
that there is respect for religion, including the Christians,” the Bishop
stressed.
He
said that respect for one another, respect for other faiths and diversity of
peoples in this part of Mindanao should be of utmost value for the stakeholders
and the implementers of the agreement.
“The
peace agreement is laudable. But without respect for religion, there will be no
peace,” he said.
He
hopes that those who will lead to implement the realization of the Bangsamoro,
their leaders must shun corruption, exclusivity, and divisiveness.
When
asked about the sentiments of Catholic Christians in Basilan, the Bishop said
that based on his conversations with the faithful, “most of them would always
refer to the two previous plebiscites where Isabela City rejected to be part of
such political entity.”
Meanwhile,
104th Brigade Commander Col Carlito Galvez said that the military is
in full alert status for the signing of the CAB, keeping watch of possible
“spoilers” in the peace agreement.
“We
don’t discount the possibility of some sectors who would attempt to create
atrocities. We have also doubled our security, not only because of the historic
signing of the CAB but because the day is also full for graduation ceremonies
in various public schools in Isabela City,” Col. Galvez explained.
He
disclosed that the MILF and its supporters from civil society groups will hold
a quick peace caravan motorcade in Lamitan and Isabela cities when permitted by
the local chief executives. He said that on the military side, the MILFs will
only be allowed inside these cities when they are in civilian clothes and
without firearms, and with the final permit from the local chief executives.