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Saturday, July 23, 2005
Mindanao leaders: It's Charter change or republic
By Stephen Capillas and Lizanilla J. Amarga
With Maria Irene S. Aserios, Bukidnon correspondent
MALAYBALAY CITY -- More than 1,000 delegates to the "Mindanao Convention for Alternative Governance" on Friday signified their support for Charter change ahead of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (Sona) this Monday.
The summit, held for one whole day at the Kaamulan Open Theater, Capitol compound in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon Province, drew in at least 500 officials, including 20 governors and 50 mayors and the rest consisting of vice mayors and councilors in Mindanao.
Participants agreed to transmit their resolutions to Malacañang ahead of the Arroyo's Monday address, which is expected to draw in mass protests nationwide.
Among the resolutions agreed upon by the delegates is the immediate convening of Congress into a constituent assembly to facilitate Charter change. They said they are asking President Arroyo to include this in her address as part of the sentiments of Mindanaoans.
The participants also said they are pushing for a federal-parliamentary form of government.
In a television interview, Bukidnon Governor Jose Maria Zubiri said while he supports a federal Mindanao state he doesn't want to pre-empt other officials.
"The important thing here is that Mindanao officials and groups have gathered here to ventilate their sentiments on the fate of Mindanao and to air these out with the Manila government," he said.
Aside from Charter change, the delegates said they are reserving the right to form an independent Mindanao republic should groups resort to unconstitutional measures to oust President Arroyo.
Local officials in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental like Mayor Vicente Emano, Opol town Mayor Dixon Yasay, Provincial Board (PB) Members Norris Babiera and Jimmy Caiña and Vice Governor Julio Uy attended the affair.
Also present in the event which is said to be one of the biggest in Mindanao were sectoral officials and representatives of non-government organizations (NGOs) from as far as Basilan, Maguindanao and Tawi-Tawi.
"It's good that we have finally decided to explore other options because Mindanao has given so much and yet kita man ang murag naa sa hindsight sa atong mga national officials," Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte pointed out.
Initial sentiments
North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piñol said the time has come for Mindanaoans to show to the entire country that they want peace, continuous growth and development and strengthened ties.
"Enough is enough...if there's a need for us to adopt a new form of government then so be it," he said. Sarangani Provincial Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez, however, questioned the absence of Mindanaoan congressmen.
"It's disappointing. We have to know their stand on whether or not they're with us. However, let's do this first and see how the president will react. She might deliver her response in her Sona (State of the Nation Address) on Monday," he said.
Governor Piñol later suggested that a committee, headed by Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr., conduct further studies on which form of government would be best for Mindanao.
As this developed, Zubiri, who acted as overall moderator and convener, also asked the delegates for an initial consensus as to which form of government they prefer and the majority voted for the parliamentary-federal form of government.
Zubiri emphasized, however, that the vote will be treated as mere "initial sentiments" of Mindanaoans. He reiterated the need for further studies.
During the conference, Zubiri also read letters from Mindanao government officials, including one from Daisy Avance-Fuentes, signifying strong support to whatever outcome the conference may yield.
"Therefore, even if there are officials who couldn't make it to (Friday's) activity, we still have written confirmation from them."
The Friday meeting was held at the Kaamulan Open Theater, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. It held the theme, "Mindanaw non-partisan initiative: Putting into our hands our destiny NOW."
Speakers included Dr. Jose Abueva, chairperson of the National Advisory Board, Citizens movement for a Federal Philippines, One People Mindanaw Spokesman Pantaleon Alvarez and Camiguin Provincial Governor Pedro Romualdo, who spoke about the parliamentary governance option.
Other key persons present during the conference included former Agriculture secretary Cito Lorenzo, noted former parliament member Reuben Canoy and Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema, also the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) secretary. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
(July 23, 2005 issue)
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