By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY – The officers and members of the Consortium of Bangsa Moro Civil
Society, Inc. (CBCSI) have condoled with the families of the members of the
Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) killed in an
“uncoordinated” encounter with the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front’s (MILF) 105th base command and some members of the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao last
Jan. 25.
In its statement
issued on Tuesday afternoon, the CBCSI appealed to every citizen of this
country to refrain from issuing statements that would aggravate the situation.
“It is always prudent to be calm at this point in time and exercise sobriety
particularly when the elusive peace in Mindanao within reach. We fervently hope
and pray that people will exercise utmost prudence on this trying time,” the
statement read.
The CBCS said “while
we recognize the strong resentment of many people around the country on this
historic bloodshed, it is best that our judgment on the said incident should be
based on the fact and truth. It is therefore wise to avoid finger pointing at
anybody.”
On the other hand,
the CBCSI lauded the recent statement of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III as
a genuine reflection of his undying commitment to the Bangsamoro people’s
desire for peace in Mindanao.
President Aquino
said: “The success of the entire peace process
is contingent in this law.”
“We therefore believe that Malacanang
is strongly putting resiliently its trust and confidence on the substance and
importance of the Bangsa Moro Basic Law (BBL) as this will bring peace and
development in Mindanao,” the statement further read.
The CBCS is further
urging both panels, the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and
the MILF to conduct impartial investigation as soonest possible time on the
incident using mechanisms duly agreed upon under the ceasefire agreement with
the participation of the third party to maximize the integrity of the result.
“We appeal to both
sides to immediately review and operationalize ceasefire mechanisms such asAdhoc
Joint Action Group (AJHAG), Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of
Hostilities (CCCH), and International Monitoring Team (IMT) as this can help
strategically defuse the tension now taking place in the area. As we believe
that if the provisions in the ceasefire agreement strictly observed, the tragic
incident should have been avoided.”
“We strongly appeal
to congress, Senate and other government institutions not to equate the
importance of BBL to the carnage, and instead make necessary measures allowing
the peace to reign amid these challenges.
Despite of all we are all still confident, the sincerity of the
government and both parties in general in finding ways to achieve peace in
Mindanao is still unquestionable and solid,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the CBCSI
urged the media to be impartial in their reporting.
“As we vehemently
condemn the bloody incident, we are calling upon the media as conveyors or
truth to the public to be balanced, impartial, objective, and avoid provocative
reporting.”
The
CBCSI is composed of the following organizations, namely: Kadtuntaya Foundation,
Inc., Mindanao Women Advocacy for Good Governance, Moro Women Development and
Cultural Center, Inc., Mindanao Action for Peace and Development Initiatives,
Inc., Young Advocate for Peace and Development Network, Forum ZFD, UNIPHYL
Women, Kadtabanga Foundation, Community Organizers Multiversity, United Youth
for Peace and Development, and Bangsa Moro Shariah Lawyers League, Inc.