DAVAO CITY - Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Bong Go has expressed bright prospects on the development of the peace talks in Mindanao, especially with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the New People's Army (NPA).
Go said he is appreciative that the MILF is fully aware and acknowledges the efforts of the Office of the SAP towards the success of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign for peace in the region.
“Alam po ng MILF kung ano yung effort na ginagawa ko at ng aking opisina rin para matuloy po itong usapang pangkapayapaan. Alam po ni MILF Vice Chairman (Ghazali) Jaafar at MILF Chairman Murad (Ebrahim), parati po kaming nag-uusap, alam po nila na gusto na rin ng gobyerno at ni Pangulo Duterte na tapusin na yung giyera. Gusto po ni Pangulo ng kapayapaan kaya parati silang nag-uusap. Sana ay matuloy na to,” Go said, praising the MILF for being open to such talks.
Go said that efforts to reach out to the NPA are also on the way. “Yung sa NPA, mag-uumpisa na po yung pag-uusap nila with the government panel kaya po nanawagan ako na sana maging sincere sila sa pag-uusap,” he said.
He further explained that even when Duterte was still mayor of Davao City, both of them had climbed to the mountains together numerous times to talk to the leftists. He said there is already trust between them since he and Duterte have repeatedly gone to NPA bases even without bodyguards. “At alam niyo kung gaano ka-sincere si Pangulo sa pag-uusap na ito. Sana kayo rin, equally,” Go said, pertaining to the NPA.
Go said the sincere approach would come in various projects the government will propose. “May ino-offer po ang local government na livelihood. The President has already directed TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) to talk to the local government units and the military to help the NPA rebels lead new lives,” he said.
Additionally, the President has also asked the Department of Agrarian Reform to study how they can help distribute lands, according to Go. “Tulad dito, tungkol sa palm oil, bibigyan ng seedlings ng government, pero saan mo naman itatanim yan kung wala namang lupa? Kaya dapat may lupain rin,” Go said.
There is also the collaboration of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of National Defense for the “Balik Baril Program.” The initiative encourages rebels to surrender their firearms to the government in exchange for peace and new beginnings, Go said.
Go is being urged by lawmakers and Duterte’s supporters to run for the senatorial elections to better serve the public, particularly the poor sector. But Go has emphasized that he does not want to talk about a possible senatorial run and that it is still too early to talk about politics despite the endorsements coming from many groups and Duterte.
“Ayoko pa pong pag-usapan yan senatorial bid at masyado pa pong maaga para pag-usapan yung pulitika. Unang-una po, hindi po ako handang tumakbo kasi hindi ko pinaghandaan. Hindi naman ako pulitiko, wala akong pera, wala akong pang-ikot. Wala akong panahon kasi marami po akong trabaho at ang kaya kong gawin sa ngayon ay mag trabaho kay Pangulo and manilbihan sa Pilipino. Trabaho lang po muna ako,” Go said.
“Maraming salamat sa Boss ko...thank you very much to President Duterte sa endorsement niya. Maraming salamat sa MILF,” Go also said regarding the MILF’s public support for his senatorial bid. (Jun Ledesma)
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