SIDE COMMENTS

Mayor Constantino Jaraula of Cagayan de oro City

“Primarily, there was really no proper and official consultations with the LGUs that would be affected by the agreement. Wala sila’y paki kung unsay socio, economic and political consequences sa ilang mga negotiations.”

Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City

“Do not build a Berlin Wall among the people of Mindanao,”

North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol,

“We won the battle. But because this is just a TRO, therefore, our victory is just temporary.”

Rea Marie Jubelag, an officer of the University of Southern Mindanao Student Government,

“The inclusion of North Cotabato in the expanded Armm (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) is not the answer to the conflict here. In fact, it will only worsen the problem.”

Pigcawayan councilor Rolando Dillera, president of the Councilors League in North Cotabato

“This is not a fight between the Muslims and the Christians. But we, Christians, are just trying to defend what is right and due us. We can’t allow the government to ink an agreement, which will later cause animosities between the Muslims and the Christians,”

Representative Abdullah Dimaporo (2nd District, Lanao del Norte)

“We trust the Philippine negotiators and the President who will not do harm to us. In case we do not like the agreement, we can oppose it in congress. Definitely we can win in the plebiscite, whether we want ‘No’ or ‘Yes.’ There is therefore no reason for any worry on the MOA.”

Now is not the time for war. Our economy is suffering from the oil crisis, “We all saw what happened during the all-out-war of President Joseph Estrada against the MILF. The MILF were no match to our AFP, but the great damage were suffered by evacuating the poor families, and large sum of public funds used by the AFP which could have been utilized for schools and other much needed projects.”

“Let us give peace a chance. Let us see the outcome of the peace agreement,”