‘One Philippines’: NSC, Mindanao
By J.Lo
“Any attempt to secede any part of Philippines will be met by government with resolute force, as it remains steadfast in securing sovereignty and integrity of national territory,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Año served as interior secretary and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief under former president Rodrigo Duterte said NSC and governors from Mindanao have strongly rejected calls for region’s secession from Philippines, emphasizing threat it poses to progress made in peace and development.
Año said any attempt to sow division in the country must be rejected unequivocally after former President Duterte pushed for “separate and independent Mindanao.”
He warned national government “will not hesitate to use its authority and forces to quell and stop any and all attempts to dismember the Republic.”
The national security adviser also said calls to separate Mindanao from rest of the country does not only run counter to the Constitution, “but also threatens to undo hard-won gains of peace and development, particularly in Mindanao.”
Año stressed comprehensive peace process, brought end to armed conflict in Mindanao, must instead be protected and strengthened.
Similarly, Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier urged Filipinos to reject any movement calling for independent Mindanao. Like Año, Galvez was also AFP chief of staff during Duterte’s presidency.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim called on public to protect gains of peace process.
“Let us continue to support current administration and allow peace and civility to reign over affairs of our land,” he said.
Governors of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao del Sur also joined other leaders from Mindanao in rejecting secession calls.
“Mindanao’s concerns should be resolved without pursuing secession… It would disrupt interconnected productivity of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that has long sustained our national stability, preserving peace, heritage, and progress in Mindanao compels Philippines to remain united,” Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu said.
Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Bai Mariam Mangudadatu pointed out secession will not address concerns of residents of Mindanao.
“It denies our people rights embodied by Constitution, including destruction of our territorial integrity compromising our efforts to build stronger nation, we are for one and united Philippines,” Mangudadatu said.
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