We proclaim commitment to peace not by words but by actions - Murad
• 19:40 PM Tue Jun 16, 2015
1,370
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
President Aquino and MILF chief Al Haj Murad. (opapp)
SULTAN
KUDARAT, Maguindanao – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Al Haj Murad today
said the decommissioning of 75 firearms and 145 combatants of his group was never
a form of surrender.
This is not
about statistics, this is personal to us,” Murad aid during the decommissioning
process held at the gymnasium of the old provincial capitol here Tuesday morning.
Decommissioning
has not been an easy one. This is expected because the struggle is an integral
part of our Moro identity,” said of the decommissioning, adding that We cannot
thank Pres. Aquino enough for his unwavering commitment in our partnership.”
Murad said the
MILF has officially started its transformation.
Today we
begin the long walk to transformation, not surrender. (This is) the start of transformation of MILF
from armed organization to political organization ready to serve the Bangsamoro
people,” he said.
He said the
decommissioning also signals that start for the MILF to shift into self-governance.
This symbolic
decommissioning signals the start of an old arrangement and control toward partnership
of autonomy,” he said.
We proclaim
our commitment to peace not by words but by action,” Murad stressed.
Murad said it
was not a sign of weaknesses on the part of the MILF, as propagated by
anti-peace groups, to decommission its firearms even the draft Bangsamoro Basic
Law is yet to be approved by Congress.
It is not
surrender,” he said in his message to his people. This is to show the MILF is
sincere in attaining peace for the Bangsamoro people.”
He also said
the MILF position on the BBL is clear.
We will
accept the BBL which is in compliance with the FAB and CAB, this is the
official position of the MILF central committee,” he said.
He then
thanked President Aquino and all those who contributed in the success of the Mindanao
peace process.
We thank the
President for his continued support to the Midnanao peace process, third party
facilitator, international communities and all who contributed to the success
of the peace process,” he said.