ROXAS: PALACE BUNGLING ON GRP-MILF MOA
HAS PUT NATIONAL SECURITY IN JEOPARDY

Senator Mar Roxas today blamed Malacañang for bungling the political process relative to the signing of the GRP-MILF Memorandum of Agreement, which he said has placed our national security in jeopardy at a time when the people are already beset with severe socioeconomic pressures.

"This enormous fiasco has deranged our political institutions by placing the executive, the judiciary and Congress in an unneeded controversy, caused diplomatic embarrassment, stoked the insecurity of outlying communities in Mindanao and raised the signals of renewed hostilities," he said.

"All the seeds of this disaster were spawned by the Palace culture of secrecy, callousness and insensitivity to the sentiments of the people," he added.

Roxas specifically asked what the MoA had in store for the people. "What did we get, what did we give up, and how will this affect the lives of those in Mindanao?"

He expressed hope that all sides will exercise "supreme constraint at this precarious time" and allow the Supreme Court to settle the issue in a manner that would be best for public safety and national security.

"We are beleaguered by an inflation rate of 12 percent and the peace process is now in jeopardy; hunger stalks our urban poor areas and now, fear stalks the countryside in Mindanao," he said.

Earlier, Roxas called on the Government to refrain from forcing through a peace agreement that is not clearly understood or appreciated by the public since this will only compound socioeconomic pressures with political tensions that feed on more conflict rather than engender stability.

"Mindanao is also our food basket and hostilities will only drive food prices through the roof," he added.