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COTABATO CITY: “I firmly believe that I could make
a difference in everybody’s desire to achieve genuine peace in
southern Philippines.”
Such was the main reason why
Roman Catholic priest Eliseo Mercado of the Oblates of Mary
Immaculate (OMI) congregation here accepted the position vacated by
Secretary Silvestre Afable as erstwhile chair of the government
panel negotiating peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),
“Secondly, peace in the
Philippines affects Southeast Asia and, as a member of the National
Peace Council, I know I could contribute to the endeavor,”
Mercado added.
The clergyman has been a familiar
personality since the early days of the Mindanao peace process in
the 70s with the MLNF led by Chairman Nur Misuari.
Mercado said his OMI colleagues
support his involvement in the GRP-MILF peace venture.
Over the weekend, Malacañang
announced the designation of Mercado as new GRP peace panel chairman
following the resignation of Afable, only for Secretary Bunye to
clarify reports on Tuesday that the Palace was still in the process
of looking for a “suitable replacement.”
Presidential adviser on the peace
process, Secretary Jesus Dureza in an interview insisted he would
still include Mercado in the short list for Afable’s replacement.
--PNA
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