North Cotabato Governor, Mayors commit supports to GPH-MILF peace talks

COTABATO - "We have full confidence on the peace panel. The Province of North Cotabato is supportive of the peace accord with the guarantee of a plebiscite."

This was the commitment of North Cotabato Governor Emmylou "Lala" Taliño-Mendoza, in her meeting today, September 19, 2012 with the mayors of the municipalities of Pikit, Aleosan, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, Carmen and Kabacan. These municipalities are deemed to be affected in the proposed creation of a new autonomous political entity (NAPE).

"Plebiscite is our legal guarantee to a democratic set-up. We acknowledge that there are Muslims, Christians and Lumads, so we cannot be selfish on this aspect," she said, stressing that in a plebiscite, the people's will is respected.

Mendoza added that she is pushing for a plebiscite to protect the interests and welfare of the people.

Mendoza also gave her assurance that no cases will be filed against the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) unlike the defunct Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) where the province led the questioning of its constitutionality.

"I think this is fair. If there is a consultation and plebiscite in the province of Cotabato, there will be no resolution to that effect," Mendoza said.

The municipal Mayors of Pikit, Aleosan, Midsayap, Carmen, Kabacan and Pigcawayan, also reassured that they will not contest whatever will be the provisions of the peace accord provided that there's consultation and plebiscite.

Mendoza also affirms that they were informed and properly consulted by the government panel. (fwd/BFC)