Press Release
October 14, 2008

ROXAS: REAL PEACE CAN NOW BE ACHIEVED IN MINDANAO
SC DECISION A TRIUMPH OF TRUTH AND JUSTICE

The people of Mindanao could now look forward to achieving genuine peace in the region as he lauded the decision of the Supreme Court declaring as unconstitutional the GRP-MILF Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain as a serious , Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said on Tuesday.

"This is the beginning of real peace in Mindanao based on truth and justice. Let the people of Mindanao and the entire nation celebrate this triumph of justice over the reckless abuse of power," Roxas said in reaction to the SC ruling.

The High Tribunal voted 8-7 on petitions, including one filed by Roxas himself, questioning the constitutionality of the MoA.

The agreement would have established a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity that covers areas that originally voted against inclusion in the Autonomous region of Muslim Mindanao.

Roxas said the SC decision prevented dismemberment of the country and affirmed Mindanaoans' complaint that Malacanang abused its power in pushing the ancestral domain agreement with the MILF.

"I congratulate the Supreme Court for putting its foot down on the politics of adventurism--This issue is not only about the limits of presidential power. It is about dismembering our Republic and manipulating the peace process to instigate Charter change. On both counts, the Supreme Court has effectively stopped the executive and its indiscriminate acts of deception and coercion," he said.

The Arroyo government, he noted, has been operating on the notorious maxim that "we will do what we want, good or bad, and if you don't agree, then sue us."

"This decision teaches the lesson that irresponsible executive leadership cannot prevail indefinitely in the presence of a vigilant judiciary," he stressed.

The Ilonggo senator said with its defeat, the government should now show remorse for its action and begin renegotiations for a new peace deal with the MILF based on constitutional parameters provided by the high court.

"It is time for the Arroyo administration to be humbled and ask for the people's forgiveness: for sacrificing the lives of hundreds and for wrenching out half-a-million evacuees from their homes, communities and livelihoods," Roxas said.

"I call on all peace-loving Filipinos, whether Muslim, Christian or Lumad: let us keep up the continuing fight for peace, justice and responsible governance. Let us continue our dialogue on how the peace process should come about for the common good of all. We have two years to craft the people's peace plan that would be implemented more credibly by the next government," he added.

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