7th Mindanao People’s Peace Summit kicks off in Lanao del Norte

Delegation from different parts of Mindanao arrived Tubod, Lanao del Norte

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (Wednesday/Dec. 18) -- The five-day 7th Mindanao People’s Peace Summit (MPPS) kicked-off Wednesday in a bid to gather progressive action to contribute in building peace in the southern Philippines.

The summit, which is set to end December 22, is being held at the Mindanao Civic Center in the town of Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

It was preceded by a meeting at noontime Wednesday in Dableston, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte and a “caravan for peace” by delegates coming from the region, Davao areas and Cotabato provinces to the event’s venue in the municipality of Tubod.

The activity is spearheaded by the Mindanao People’s Peace Movement (MPPM), which is a convergence and network of grassroots of tri-people organization working to build peace and solidarity.

MPPM Chairperson Rodelio Ambangan said Wednesday that 350 participants from different grassroots peace and human rights organization in Mindanao are attending the summit.

Ambangan said among the major issues they would tackle are concerning human rights, peace and right to self-determination as a framework for peace in Mindanao.

He said they would come-up with a united stand and collective progressive action to contribute in building peace here in Mindanao.

The summit is anchored on the theme: “Pursuing Inclusive Right to Self-Determination towards a Just, Sustainable, and Peaceful Mindanao.”

7th MPS Caravan convoy from Cotabato and Zamboanga area