Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tirana (Agenzia Fides) - "Peace is possible in southern Philippines", said Miriam Coronel Ferrer, for years head of the delegation of the Philippine government for the peace negotiations with Muslim rebels in Mindanao, participating in the international meeting "Peace is always possible" organized by the St. Egidio Community in Tirana.
"After 17 years of negotiations, last year, 24 March, 2014, peace agreements were signed in Mindanao. Two representatives of delegations, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, signed the agreement after a conflict that caused 17 thousand dead and thousands displaced", she recalled.
Ferrer stressed that negotiations have progressed considerably since 2010 with the new government, but was keen to stress that "in order to strengthen peace one has to have faith, because without trust and faith our process would not have reached its goals".
Miriam Ferrer highlighted some of the fruits of a process yet to come, such as "the delivery of weapons last June and the subsequent ceasefire".
While the "Bangsamoro Basic Law" is being discussed in the Filipino Parliament, which would ratify a definitive agreement for the establishment of the new Muslim autonomous region, the Bishops of the country, in their final statement, reiterated that they imagine "a BBL based on justice and is guided by moral principles". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 08/09/2015)
