Press Release
August 21, 2008

ROXAS: CLEAR POLICY NEEDED TO ATTAIN PEACE
GOV'T MUST SAY: NOT ONE INCH OF OUR COUNTRY WILL BE GIVEN UP

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas called on the government to come up with a clear policy to ensure peace in Mindanao, whether or not the Supreme Court voids or upholds the controversial GRP-MILF Peace Panel Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Ancestral Domain.

"Ang ating kababayan sa Mindanao ay naghihintay para sa malinaw na senyales mula sa gobyerno, kung ano ba talaga ang polisiya tungo sa kapayapaan. Sa ngayon, nagpuputukan doon sa dalawang bahagi ng Mindanao, at hanggang sa ngayon, hindi nila alam kung maaasahan na mabibigyan sila ng proteksyon mula sa gobyerno," he said at a Liberal Party press conference, which was held after a commemoration mass and wreath-laying ceremony on the 25th death anniversary of national hero and LP stalwart Ninoy Aquino.

Roxas, together with co-petitioner and former Senate President Franklin Drilon, filed this afternoon a reply with the Supreme Court opposing the government peace panel's motion to dismiss the case. Even if the MoA itself was completely scrapped, Roxas maintained that the Supreme Court must rule on the government panel's actions, which are against the Constitution.

"Kahit sabihin nila na i-renegotiate nila ito, ang mga kabaluktutan na nagbunga nitong MoA ay nandiyan pa rin. Tuloy naming kokontrahin ang MoA hangga't masiguro ang kapayapaan at katahimikan sa Mindanao," he said.

"This is not only a question of stopping not just this particular MoA for being unconstitutional, but to get some accountability and set a precedent to prevent such a betrayal from ever happening again," he added.

He also labeled as "double-talk" the government's statements of reviewing or renegotiating the peace agreement with the MILF.

"Halimbawa ito ng panlilinlang, ng double-talk, na isinasagawa ng pamahalaan sa MoA na ito. This is a time for leadership, this is a time for clarity, this is a time for steadfastness," Roxas said.

"We want the government to clearly state its plans to scrap the MoA, to fire the negotiators of this disastrous agreement, say no to all negotiations under the gun, and apprehend and bring to justice all the murderers, arsonists and kidnappers who caused these injustices in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and other parts of Mindanao," he said, adding: "We need the government to say: 'Not one square inch of our country will be sacrificed and given up'."

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