Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cotabato City (Agenzia Fides) - “Benigno Aquino, in the recent presidential elections, won many of the areas of Mindanao, including the Autonomous Islamic Region. In spite of several difficulties, elections in Mindanao were, as observers have said, free and honest. All this presents great hopes for the future of Mindanao during Aquino's presidency.” This is what Fides learned from Fr. Eliseo Mercado, Missionary of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and an expert on the Mindanao area and the decades-old problems that have besieged the South Philippines.
In agreement with the analysis offered by many observers, Fr. Mercado noted that the persistent conflict in the South between Islamic groups and the regular army reflect the root problems of economic trouble and social and cultural underdevelopment in the area. These problems are faced through the work of reconciliation.
According to Fr. Mercado, there are various concrete issues to resolve: “One is the presence and activity of the Mindanao Development Authority, an organization that was created but has never been operative. There is a need for a 'face-lift' and a new approach that bring about a true plan of peace and development for Mindanao.”
Taking these steps, the missionary notes, we can speak of peace: “We need a global strategy, a peace process that involves the government and the two main movements: the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front. In this plan, which I hope President Aquino will want to draw up, there are also other important factors: the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples and the Commission for Muslim Filipinos, recently created. The former is useful in taking into account the demands of the indigenous peoples and the latter, for giving voice and hope to the Muslim community. These are two significant components of the Filipino population on Mindanao.”
As for the response, Fr. Mercado says that “the people of the South Philippines will test to see the intentions of the new government and therefore, the real hopes for building lasting peace.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/5/2010)
