Thursday, October 16, 2008 Gov’t won’t appeal junking of homeland deal
EXECUTIVE Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the government would no longer appeal the Supreme Court's (SC) decision declaring the proposed memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as illegal.
Ermita said Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera instead would file a manifestation stating that the things contained in the high court’s decision are actually happening already and have started even before the SC issued a ruling.
“The manifestation will show that the very observations made by the Supreme Court in their decision are indeed being addressed by the executive branch on order of the President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo),” he said.
He added that there would be no motion to be filed in behalf of the government panel negotiating with the MILF since the panel itself has already been dissolved by Arroyo.
“A new paradigm shift had been issued and the two important things about the paradigm shift in negotiations with the MILF are focused not only on the armed groups but also on dialogues with communities. The negotiation should be undertaken in the context of disarmament, disbandment and reintegration of forces,” he said.
Ermita said the dialogues are now being done at different levels, both with the local government executives in the area and with the civil sector representing the different communities in Mindanao.
President Arroyo reiterated that the government had resolved that it would no longer sign the MOA-AD regardless of the SC decision, and it has not changed.
Arroyo, in a speech during Wednesday’s oath-taking of the new officers of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap) led by its new president Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., hoped that no one would take “undue advantage of the verdict that would lead to the deterioration of the situation” and pull the nation apart.
“I would like to congratulate Mayor Lawrence Cruz and Vice Mayor Henry Lim for the SC ruling on the case you filed. We respect the position of the SC on that matter. After all and I think Lawrence knows this, many times I have publicly announced that no matter what the SC ultimately decides, the government will not sign the proposed MOA,” she said.
Cruz, mayor of Iligan City, was among the local government officials who questioned the MOA-AD before the SC.
The President said she is now asking the local government leaders especially those in the affected areas in Mindanao to help the government especially in the conduct of dialogues with the communities.
“I know you have the capability to help our country as a whole. In the light of everything we need to do, I look to you, local government executives to be frontline examples of good governance and I look to you to continue to be a bastion of support,” she added.
Ermita meanwhile shrugged off MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu’s threat that they would take the MOA-AD to the international court, saying nothing would prevent them from doing so.
He said the President, however, had personally informed the international community including the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) of the Philippine government’s decision on the MOA-AD as well as the shift in paradigm.
The executive secretary also dismissed any need for additional troops in Mindanao in anticipation of more attacks from recalcitrant MILF members.
He said the directive of Arroyo was to prevent a repeat of similar attacks in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato in August, and to ensure that there will be no collateral damage to civilians during pursuit operations. (JMR/Sunnex)
