Former guerrillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who are now officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) turned emotional as they felt the sincerity and commitment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for Mindanao.
The BARMM officials tried to hold back tears when the President stressed during the 17th meeting of the national government and the Bangsamoro government Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) that there cannot be a strong Mindanao without a strong BARMM, and there cannot be a strong Philippines without a strong Mindanao.
“A stronger BARMM means a stronger Mindanao, and a stronger Mindanao means a stronger Philippines, bringing us closer to achieving our agenda,” President Marcos said in his speech during the 17th IGRB meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Thursday, which elicited a resounding applause from the audience.
President Marcos also commended the peacekeepers who worked for Mindanao’s rebuilding efforts and urged everyone to remember those who shed blood and died for peace to finally bloom in the region as he emphasized that dreams do come true and peace with justice reigns.
During the observance of the Constitution Day 2024 in Makati City on Thursday, President Marcos also highlighted the significant contribution of the BARMM leaders to achieve a long-lasting peace and order in Mindanao amid calls for its separation from the rest of the Philippines.
President Marcos said the call for Mindanao secession is doomed to fail “for it is anchored on a false premise, not to mention a sheer constitutional travesty” as he appealed to stop the “preposterous proposal” as it will not bring any good to Mindanao.
“The new call for a separate Mindanao is doomed to fail, for it is anchored on a false premise, not to mention a sheer constitutional travesty. The current leadership of BARMM itself has repudiated this preposterous proposal. And so did the other political leaders of Mindanao,” President Marcos said.
“This is because there can be, as in fact there is already, genuine and effective local autonomy throughout our country, especially in the BARMM, without compromising our national integrity in the slightest degree,” he added.
“I strongly appeal to all concerned to stop this call for a separate Mindanao. This is a grave violation of the Constitution. Hindi ito ang Bagong Pilipinas na ating hinuhubog. Bagkus, ito ay pag-wasak mismo sa ating bansang Pilipinas,” he added.
The President emphasized the Constitution calls for a united and undivided Philippines. *PND*
