By DAVAO TODAY
DAVAO CITY – A leader of a Moro organization here said that there is still hope for peace in the country if the “corrupt government” will be headed by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
“I hope he accepts the challenge to be the country’s next president. He can put our country in order,” said Moro National Front of the Philippines (MNLF) Davao City Chairman Orlando Olamit.
MNLF members marked the 46th year anniversary of the Jabidah masscre at the Rizal Park Tuesday.
Jabidah was the commando unit created by the Marcos government for its Operation Merdeka.
“What happened was that our brothers were forcibly conscripted to fight our other brothers (in Sabah) and when they refused they were massacred,” said Olamit.
The massacre fueled the Moro rebellion in the 1970s and gave birth to the founding of the MNLF by Nur Misuari.
Duterte earlier said he will consult with Misuari should he decide to become a presidential candidate in 2016.
Meanwhile, Suara Bangsamoro, Liga ng Kabataang Moro (Leagu of Moro Youth) and Moro human rights group Kawagib led a protest in Tantawan Park in Cotabato City to commemorate the massacre.
In a statement sent to the media, Suara Bangsamoro Spokesperson Jerome Succor Aba said that “Ang paggunita sa araw ng Jabidah Masaker ay pagalala din sa naging lakas at giting ng maraming kapatid nating moro na lumaban para sa katarungan, hustisya, at pagsulong para sa sariling pagpapsya (The commemoration of the Jabidah Massacre is also to remember the strength and courage of our Moro brothers who fought for justice and the right for self-determination.)”
“Makalipas ang apat na dekada ng Jabidah Massacre, nananatiling walang pagbago sa pamumuhay ng Bangsamoro bagkus sa panunungkulan ni Noynoy Aquino mas tumindi ang kawalang katarungan, diskriminasyon at paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Patuloy na biktima ng pang-aapi at panunupil ng estado ang bangsamoro (After four decades of the Jabidah Massacre, nothing changed in the lives of the Bangsamoro people. The Aquino government has only intensified injustice, discrimination and human rights violations),” said Aba.
He cited victims of the government’s counter-insurgency program such as Asmayra Usman, Monladin Kamid and Gayle Miraato.
“We urge the people to unite and fight for the right to self-determination to achieve peace based on justice. As we remember Jabidah, let us also remember our unity to fight for our rights,” added Aba.(davaotoday.com)
