Mindanao youth belonging to various tribes call for the government of the Philippines (GPH) to stop offensives against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters as thousands of civilians are already displaced.
The youth who belongs to Maguindanaoan, Meranaw, Iranun, Teduray, Ilonggo and Ilocano made the statement on Monday as they gathered for the Youth Assembly for Peace in Cotabato City.
In a statement, they said they speak for the youth who have experienced war “since the all-out-war in 2000 and 2008 MOA-AD failure.”
“We are caught in between the chaos and the offensives launched by government forces against the BIFF and we are the future bearers of the result of this war,” they said.
They also called for the immediate passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. The participants of the assembly came from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City.