COTABATO CITY: Members of the peace caravan that left Mindanao on Friday as well as groups supporting the Bangsamoro agreement will hold a vigil tonight at Mendiola as they await the signing of the pact on Monday.

The caravan, composed of residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and members of various civil society organizations in Mindanao, staged a four-day Peace Caravan they called “Lakbayan ng Mamamayan ng ARMM para sa Kapayapaan” last week. A convoy of 10 vehicles traveled in a symbolic journey of unity and solidarity to through other Mindanao cities on the way to Manila.

The group will stay in Mendiola tonight where they will wait for the signing of the agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic tomorrow in Malacanang.

ARMM Regional Assembly Speaker Rasul Mitmug Jr. spoke of the significance of the Framework Agreement and described it as a “guidepost to Bangsamoro destiny in its parliamentary quest for recognition.”

Meanwhile, according to ARMM Executive Secretary Anwar Malang, “the ARMM supports people’s participation in the peace process and must provide avenues for awareness to be raised.”

Moro civil society leaders have banded together in showing support in the government’s peace talks initiative.

“Let us show the President that he must stick to his guns in supporting this framework,” said Macaurog Panandigan of Lanao del Sur’s two way-radio communicators group, Alert.

Meanwhile, Manila-based groups are readying for the convergence of the advocates of peace at the Chino Roces Monument in Mendiola, Manila.

Jolly Lais of Ako ay Kalagan (AKO) said they are ready to welcome the people of Mindanao in Manila as a form of “kapit-bisig” against spoilers of the agreement.

“This time, we cannot allow minority anti-peace voice to hostage the evolution of long and winding peace talks that has cost almost a million lives. To Senator Miriam Santiago and critics, constitutionality is an issue too premature to speak of when many mothers have lost their children to this costly conflict,” said Assemblywoman Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, sectoral representative for women in the Regional Assembly.

Earlier, OIC-Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman hailed the announcement of President Benigno Aquino, 3rd on the Framework Agreement.

“ARMM officials hailed the announcement of President Aquino on the Framework Agreement concluded by the government and MILF that would pave the way to the region’s new political entity named Bangsamoro,” Hataman said.

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“Lakbay Kalinaw” (Caravan for Peace)

Another set of peace caravaneers, the “Lakbay Kalinaw,” (whose name is a mixture of the Tagalog word “lakbay” meaning journey and the Cebuano word “kalinaw” (peace), is described below by contributor Abigail Joy Taganas.

Cagayan De Oro City went agog over the signing of the “Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro” after the Lakbay Kalinaw Caravan (Peace Caravan) arrived on Saturday.

The peace caravan aims to demonstrate the participants’ support for the peace agreement. This is composed of leaders and civil society groups from Muslim, Christian, and Indigenous communities in Mindanao.

“Young and old, women and men, Muslims and Christians from all tribes and faiths in Mindanao take the long [road] journey to convey to the world that we are a big part of this historic event,” said Mariel Andrea Gardiola, networking and liaison officer of the Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus (MPC), which organized the caravan.

Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, MPC secretary-general, meanwhile appealed to all political leaders in Mindanao to support the GPH-MILF Framework Agreement including the more critical task of implementing the agreement.

“Now more than ever, the sons and daughters of Mindanao especially our political leaders, should also do our part for the sake of peace and unity and reconciliation with our Muslim brothers and sisters,” said Arnado. “The peace panels, PNoy and Chairman Murad could not do this by themselves. We need the cooperation and support of everyone especially those in Mindanao who will stand to directly benefit from the dividends of peace.”

Arnado said the peace caravan is one way of showing to the world that Mindanawons, regardless of their religious and political affiliations, are one in supporting the agreement.

Gardiola also related that peacebuilders and peace advocates do not mind travelling by land and sea and spend long days and nights of travel just to show their thanksgiving for “finally reaching the light at the end of the long dark tunnel.”

The peace caravan started in Davao City, Cotabato City, Maguindanao and North Cotabato Friday morning and linked up with contingents in Marawi City, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City. They converged in Lipata port in Surigao City. From there, the caravan will board the ferry all to the way to Liloan in Leyte and then to Allen then to Matnog in Sorsogon.
It is expected to arrive in Malacañang Sunday afternoon.

More than 20 vehicles joined the caravan with the support from peace networks, church, civil society organizations and line agencies of the ARMM.

The caravan will join other peace advocates in Luzon and NCR for the Peace Vigil in Malacanang to welcome the ceremonial signing on Monday.

Pastor Reu Montecillo, MPC co-chairperson, said that since peace is what all Filipinos are aspiring and dreaming of for a long time, it is but logical that “we support this historic signing of the framework.”

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles earlier expressed that “this will be the first time that the MILF leadership and adherents will set foot inside the Palace. That first step alone signifies a giant leap in the relations between the two sides.”