ISABELA CITY, Basilan, June 7 (PIA) – Presidential
Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles said that ending more than
a decade of bloody conflict between the political clans of the Hatamans and the
Akbars is a big step towards lasting peace in this war-torn province.
The Hatamans and the Akbars, two of the most
influential families in the province, forged a peace pact on Tuesday.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor in-charge Mujiv Hataman
and Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar led their respective families in signing the
“covenant of solidarity for peace and development in Basilan” at the Basilan
State College in this city.
Deles, along with Interior and Local
Government Secretary Jesse Robredo witnessed the historical pact.
In her speech, the peace adviser expressed
appreciation and welcomed the gesture as very beneficial to the peace process.
“Peace cannot be won just on the negotiating
tables; it also has to be waged on the ground. Ito ay isang malaking hakbang na
nagpapakitang ang mga namumuno sa atin ay may kakayahang umangat sa interes
nilang personal at ng kanilang angkan para makatutok sa mas malawakang interes
ng mga mamamayan at para makapagtulak ng tunay na kapayapaan at kaunlaran para
sa probinsiya (This is a big step which shows that those who lead us are
capable of going beyond their personal interests and that of their clans to
focus on the interests of the people and promote genuine peace and development
in the province),” she said.
Robredo on the other hand challenged the
5,000 people in attendance to live out the contents of the agreement.
“Wala pong saysay ang pagtitipong ito kung
mauuwi lang sa isang papel. Lahat po tayo ay may obligasyon na ang ating iiwan
ay mas mahusay kesa sa ating dinatnan…mas tahimik sa ating inabutan (This
gathering will be in vain if it will just remain on paper. We have an
obligation to leave our people more capable and more peaceful than we have
found them.)
For his part, Hataman expressed hope that
this event will help change the bad perception on Muslim culture and politics
in the region.
“Huwag po nating hayaang habang panahong
maging tingin ng nasa labas na ang Muslim ay hindi marunong mamuno at magpapakamatay
at nagpapatayan dahil lamang sa kapangyarihan (Let us not allow outsiders to
always see Muslims as incapable of leading, and will die and kill each other
only because of power),” he said.
“Baguhin natin ang politika ng mga Muslim.
Hindi nagpapatayan bagkus ay nagmamahalan. Ipakita natin na ang pulitika ng mga
Muslim ay base sa kwalipikasyon at hindi base sa pera at sa kanilang mga armas
(Let us change the politics of the Muslims. Show that we are not killing, but
caring for each other. Let us show that the politics of the Muslims is based on
qualifications and not on money and arms),” Hataman added.
Also present in the event were Sulu Gov.
Sakur Tan, Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali, Lanao del Norte Gov. Mamintal
Alonto-Adiong, different mayors in Basilan and some ARMM cabinet officials.
The Akbars and Hatamans were political allies
until they parted ways in 2004 when they ran in different tickets.
In 2007, former Basilan Congressman Wahab
Akbar was killed in a blast in at the House of Representatives Complex in
Batasan Pambansa, Quezon City. The Akbars suspected the Hatamans of
orchestrating the murder and filed charges against then Anak Mindanao Partylist
Representative Mujiv Hataman, his brother Jim Hataman and current Basilan
Representative Gerry Salapuddin.
In 2010, Jum Akbar, widow of the late Congressman
Wahab Akbar, won the election and defeated Mujiv Hataman and Salapuddin.
(OPAPP/RVC/PIA9-ZBST)
