Makati City (April 6, 2015) - Peace advocates convened at the Asian Institute Management (AIM) conference center this city and launched the Friends of Peace (FOP) led by Archbishop Orlando B. Cardinal Quevedo OMI of the Diocese of Cotabato. Cardinal Quevedo shared his vision and Genesis of the FOP to the participants. He said that long before the mamasapano event, peace advocates had already planned on monitoring and assisting the deliberations in congress on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic law (BBL), the difficulties of transition from the ARMM to Bangsamoro government, the challenges of implementing the BBL. A small group of such peace advocates had those intentions in mind and called themselves Friends of Peace (FOP).
From the time the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) was signed at Malacanang to the time when the proposed bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was submitted congress, great optimism generally prevailed that finally decades of armed conflict would cease. many considered the BBL as a promise of a just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines. It clearly articulatesthe right of Bangsamoro self-determination within a limited territory, the preservation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The optimism was dashed to pieces in the aftermath of the human tragedy at Mamasapano that claimed the lives of 44 troops of the Special Action Force of the National Police, 17 MILF combatants and several civilians. the charges of murder and massacre of the SAF allegedly perpetarted by the MILF uncovered the deep resentment, biases, prejudices, against Muslims harbored by Christian majority including some of the legislators. the Mamasapano tragedy brought the congress deliberations on the BBL to a halt and voices were raised against the BBL by the outraged public.
There were two general reactions to the Mamasapano tragedy cam be immediately perceived: outrage against the MILF and the BBL, including anger at the government peace panel taht negotiated the CAB; dismay and disappointment by peace advocates in Mindanao that had closely followed the peace process. A Mutual mistrust wasrose from the blood shed by SAF, MILF, and civilians at Mamasapano.
The FOP are the group of men and women who bond together for the common purpose of fostering harmony among Mindanawons (Muslims, Lumads, Christians, and members of other religious traditions). FOP are non-partisan, independent, free of any entanglement with the parties in conflict. With other like-minded Filipinos in the country, they resolve to promote peace through dialogue and to engage in the education and formation of persons of dialogue. Their vision goes beyond the implementation of the BBL and into the formation of a human ecology of harmony and peace among various ethnic groups and religious traditions. The FOP are interested on how the world of education, religion, the professions, social communications, and the arts could contribute to such a human environment, they have a vision of socialharmony and peace, a vision of social justice and human development. To achieve this vision the FOP wish to collaborate with other individuals, with groups and communities, people of good will.
The concrete concerns of the FOP were based in the aftermath of the Mamasapano and identified immediate concerns: the eruption of age-old biases and prejudices, the role of media in sustaining the public sentiment of outrage, the values and mindsets of legislators that reinforce the public sentiment, misinformation and misinterpretation among the general public regarding the the peace process and the peace agreement, and the impact of all of the above on the BBL as well as on lasting peace. The FOP also strategically on how to restore trust that would be adequate in creating a sober, rational, and objective deliberation on the BBL - this is the immediate task that FOP desires to achieve in the short term.
A suggested plan of action towards a change of mind and heart. For the immediate concerns, this will promote reconciliation and reduce biases and prejudices - widows and children from MILF, SAF and civilians to share their experiences of grief for lost of love ones. A team of FOP to go on an information tour about the truth of "objectionable" provisions of BBL to media people, universities, business world, religious groups. Invite media people and legislators to visit conflict areas in mindanao and be exposed to the situation of ordinary people as well as of "bakwits" (evacuees). Invite legal and constitutional experts to provide a re-wording of questionable provisions in the BBL so that such provisions would be more clearl.y attuned to the letter and spirit of the constitution. Suggest improvements on the proposed BBL, e,g., on transitional justice, on time-free referendum by 10% of the people, on contiguity, on "exclusive" power over education.
For the long term objective, the FOP envisioned on Education and formation towards Dialogue and Peace. This will start with Basic education - embed it into the curriculum. For families - create a culture of respect for others, a culture of loving dialogue in the home. For the different religious beliefs - follow up the work of the families, do the same for religious groups (e.g., masjid communities, parishes, Basic Ecclesial communities, religious groups and leaders), Intra-faith and inter-faith dialogue. Provide exposure programs for men and women, youth and children towards a dialogue of life. Training for leadership towards a culture of Dialogue and Peace. Develop networks of dialogue and peace, create synergy. For the other members of civil society, help provide and promote a citizens' agenda for social justice and human development, especially for the Bangsamoro who represent a worst case scenario.
The conveners of the Friends of Peace are the following: Orlando B. Cardinal Quevedo OMI, Cardinal, Archdiocese of cotabato; Hon. Santanina Rasul, Former Seantor, Chairperson, Magbasa Kita Foundation; Founding Chair, KASANYAGAN Foundation; Atty Christian Monsod, Member, 1987 Constitutional Commission; Hon. Bainon Karon, Former Vice Governor, ARMM, Chairperson, Federation of Bangsamoro Women's Organization; Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, President, Ateneo de Davao University; Mr. Vicente T. Lao, Chairman, Mindanao Business Council, Davao City.
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| Cardinal Quevedo facilitating |
Participating civil society organizations were the Mindanao Peace Weavers, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, Mindanao People's Caucus, Young Moro Professionals, Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace, National Ulama Conference - Philippines, Western Mindanao State University, Nisa Ul Haqq Fi bangsamoro, Peace Advocates Zamboanga, Peacebuilders Community, CODE NGO, MINCODE, CAFOD-Peace Network, Mindanao Solidarity Network, Center for Peace Education - Miriam College, Balay Mindanao and World Interfaith Harmony Partners.
Action plan for the FOP will be more challenging by engaging dialogue with the two houses of congress, to lobby for the passage of the BBL. A continuing peace education for the people will be conducted to minimize the impact of misunderstanding that lead to disinformation and conflict. Media dialogue is also considered to gradually educate the media of the conflict situation in Mindanao of diverse cultures, rooted from the historical backgrounds to political aspirations on self-determination and the peace process. Video report by Jun Enriquez/ Photos by Malyne D. Gungob.
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