Newly re-elected Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is calling on the government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the federalism advocates to sit down and hold more dialogues to solve the conflicts plaguing  Mindanao.

While Ampatuan sees the expansion of the ARMM as a “welcome development,” he said that there is a great need to “hold series of conversations to hear the concerns of those who will be affected by the [expansion of the] region…. They need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of being under the ARMM,” he told reporters in his first interview after his proclamation Wednesday afternoon.

What was originally touted as a breakthrough in the peace negotiations between the government and the MILF—the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain, which was supposed to be signed last week—turned controversial and sparked fighting between government troops and supposedly MILF rebels when the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on the signing.

Politicians in areas to be included in the ARMM asked the High Court to stop the signing on the ground that they were not consulted if they wanted to be included in the expanded area.

Sobriety

Ampatuan is also appealing to the MILF for sobriety. “To the MILF, we should have dialogues. Let’s discuss the problems so that we will have true peace in Mindanao. We cannot use force. It will not solve the problems.”

Similarly, Ampatuan said “more dialogues” are needed to discuss the proposal to turn the Philippines into a federal state. “As of now, we don’t understand the proposals yet. The advocates should hold series of consultations and explain it to the people,” he said.

“More dialogue means more understanding. If we understand each other, we can prevent violence,” he said. He said his priorities are going to be "security" and "peace and order."

Ampatuan is on his second term in office. He won the ARMM elections by a landslide, getting 1, 017,179 votes or about 80 percent of the total votes cast in the region.

Excerpts from the interview (immediately after the 5 p.m. proclamation on August 13)

On MOA-AD:
It’s a welcome development to expand the area of the autonomous region. But we need to have a series of conversations to listen to those who will be affected by the expansion of the autonomous region.

On consultations:
There was consultation. But we need a series of consultations or more consultations to make things clearer if ever the autonomous region is expanded, what are the disadvantages, advantages if they are under ARMM.

On the effects of the fighting in North Cotabato:
We in ARMM are not affected. We have a small problem in North Cotabato, which is not under ARMM. Still, we have security measures if the problem spills over from North Cotabato to our areas of jurisdiction. 

On his priority: 
First is security and peace and order.  

On automated election:
The election was orderly. I am thankful to the Comelec, AFP, and PNP for the peaceful elections in the autonomous region.

On the MILF:
I appeal to the MILF for a dialogue. Let’s talk about our problems so that we will have lasting peace in Mindanao. We can’t use force. All the more we won’t be able to understand each other.

On ARMM as cheating haven:
In previous elections, the impression of the public was that ARMM is the cheating capital of the Philippines. Considering that the first automated elections in ARMM is orderly, we’re grateful that this impression will be reduced.

On ceasefire:
From the very start, our position is to support the peace process. Still, we need a proper dialogue, more understanding, to avoid violence.

On federalism:
As of now, we don’t understand this fully yet. What’s good is that federalism advocates should hold a series of consultations, explain this to the public, what are the advantages and disadvantages—to make things clearer. (abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak)

---

INTERACT WITH THIS ARTICLE