Press Release
October 14, 2008

Villar welcomes SC decision declaring MOA-AD unconstitutional

Senate President Manny Villar today welcomed the Supreme Court decision declaring as unconstitutional the agreement which sought the expansion of the Bangsamoro homeland and the creation of a separate state within the Republic of the Philippines.

"I laud the magistrates who saw the merit of the petition questioning the constitutionality of this agreement that will practically dismember the Republic. This is one legal battle that claims no victor but the country," Villar said.

Voting 8-7, the Supreme Court ruled that the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain which would have expanded the coverage of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao under the BangsaMoro Juridical Entity is unconstitutional.

"Now that the Supreme Court has spoken, I am glad that the Republic will remain intact and we can renew efforts to address the legitimate demands of the people of Muslim Mindanao within the framework of the Constitution," he said.

"This ruling emphasizes the need for transparency and full consultation with all stakeholders in any negotiation participated in by government. Let this ruling serve as guidance for negotiations in the future, that we should be protective of our sovereignty and not to allow our territorial integrity be jeopardized," Villar added.

The Nacionalista Party president also appealed to the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to respect the decision of the highest court in the land.

"This should not be a reason to antagonize the MILF and result in the resumption of hostilities in Mindanao. Instead, the SC decision should signal the resumption of the stalled peace talks without any preconditions, but with one common goal: to establish a durable peace that will allow Muslim Mindanao to attain high level of economic and social development consistent with their beliefs and traditions," he said.

Villar also urged the government to include in the peace negotiations ulamas, young Muslim professionals, members of the academe, women and "those whose credentials are bold and forward-looking for Mindanao."

At the same time, Villar said government should remain firm in their efforts to bring to justice certain MILF forces responsible for attacks in Central Mindanao that led to loss of lives, destruction of properties and displacement of innocent civilians.

"Sa simula pa lang ay nakita na natin na hindi talaga katanggap-tanggap ang kasunduang ito na magiging sanhi ng pagkakahati-hati ng Pilipinas. Maliwanag na tinututulan ito ng halos lahat ng sektor ng ating lipunan kaya ikinatutuwa natin ang desisyong ito ng Korte Suprema," Villar said.

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