Zamboanga City - - Mayor Celso Lobregat over the weekend emphasized anew Zamboanga City’s stand on the aborted memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during a gathering of bishops from various areas in Mindanao in Davao City.

The gathering, convened and hosted by Arcbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao City, was also attended by Senator Mar Roxas, North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Pinol and Atty. Cenas, a representative of Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz.

Last week, the catholic leaders also met with government peace panel representatives led by (Ret.) Gen. Hermogenes Esperon and MILF representatives led by Mohaguer Iqbal with primary purpose of getting first hand information on the position of the contracting parties on the issue.

Mayor Lobregat in his briefing before the bishops presented a sneak preview of the peace efforts in Mindanao and how Zamboanga City residents view the same—a topic, which he knows by heart.

“My stand on the issue is the stand of the majority of the residents of the city of Zamboanga”, the mayor told the bishops. He cited the possible implications of the MOA-AD had not the Supreme Court issued the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) stopping the signing of the accord in Malaysia last August 5.

In the same briefing, Lobregat stressed that the national government should stress on unity and oneness and not to divide or segregate the Republic on the basis of religion or creed, race and culture. “We are so divided already, we are so archipelagic and to pursue this MOA-AD would dismember Mindanao and the entire country”.

Even before the government signed the peace pact with the Moro National Liberation Front in 1996, Lobregat said he already pointed out the need for transparent negotiations, the need for negotiating within the ambit of the Constitution and the need for the conduct of genuine and sincere consultations with the stakeholders in Mindanao.

Pinol and Sen. Roxas as well as Atty. Cenas were also given opportunities to discuss on their stand on the issue for the enlightenment of the religious leaders.

After the gathering, the bishops, thanked Lobregat, Roxas and Pinol and Cruz’ representative for gracing the invitation and for personally clarifying their stand on the issue.

Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato City said the briefings by the four officials would help them understand the issue better. He said they only used to read and hear about the pros and cons on the issue through the media.

Among those present during the gathering were Archbishops from Davao, Kidapawan, Digos, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Pagadian and several other areas in Mindanao. It was held at the Archbishop’s Palace in Davao City. (Sheila Covarrubias)