Press Release
July 22, 2009

Good governance will bring peace and development in Mindanao - Gordon

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) remains firm in his stance that good governance, rather than an all-out-war, will be far more effective in attaining lasting peace and ushering in development in Mindanao.

Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, reaffirmed this position during an interview with broadcast-journalist Tina Monzon Palma on ANC's Talkback.

"I've always said, socio-economic reform, full court press on justice, full court press on livelihood, farm-to-market roads, and amnesty would be a more effective solution to the conflict in Mindanao," he said.

"There is no governance in Sulu. When I went around the community, it was an eye-opener. There were teachers who wanted to teach but they were not certified. There were schools that had no water, no toilets, no decent books, not even decent chairs. As you go out of Jolo, the roads get narrower. There are not enough farm-to-market roads, there are not enough ships or planes that can land in Sulu," he added.

Gordon explained that the amnesty he is proposing is one that goes side by side with reforms, such as providing infrastructure to facilitate trade and livelihood, that would let the people of Mindanao live more decent lives so they would have more belief in the government rather than rely on guns.

"I think there were amnesties offered but the amnesty went as far as not being carefully worded, and as far as only buying firearms or balik-armas, i-integrate sila sa pulis or whatever. I don't think it ever went into really honest to goodness reform," he said.

Gordon pointed out that it is time that we break out of our indoctrination from the Spanish colonizers that Muslims are the enemy and resolve the Mindanao conflict that has already gone on for several decades.

"I think, eventually, slowly but surely, it's not going to happen overnight, we will see an end to the sixty years of war between brother Filipinos. If you provide livelihood and respect, understanding and acceptance. The Muslim people are part of us," he said.

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