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A MINDANAO based Catholic Bishop on Monday urged the government to
stretch the issue of ancestral domain in the on-going peace process,
while expressing his support for the creation of an Islamic state in
the Philippines.
Bishop Edwin de la Peña, the prelature of St.
Mary in Marawi said he supports the call of Bangsamoro people for
the creation of an Islamic state where they can practice their
customs, laws and traditions.
“It’s about time that we should give our
brother and sister Muslims their aspiration for Mindanao,” dela Peña
said in a report that came in the website of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines.
The Marawi bishop said the creation of an
Islamic State within the Philippines is possible and would allow the
Muslims to freely move in an Islamic environment without any fear of
coexisting with Christians.
“The Christians are still covered by the civil
law of the land while the Muslims are covered by Shari’ah law. The
Islamic state will allow the creation of a Quran inspired Islamic
institution,” de la Peña said.
The Marawi bishop also asked the government to
‘stretch’ their stand on the ancestral domain issue, one of the
ticklish issues in the ongoing peace process between the government
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“If going beyond the constitution will help
attain finality in the peace talks, then the Arroyo regime should
consider doing it,” de la Peña said.
The Marawi Bishop said government ought to just
broaden its stand on the issue of ancestral domain so it could be
put to rest and the peace agreement between the government and MILF
will be signed.
With the ancestral domain issue unresolved, the
Marawi bishop said it would only delay the resumption of the peace
negotiation, which is reason enough for government to make a little
sacrifice for peace in Mindanao.
“If we are really for peace, we don’t care
if we sacrifice as long as we can assure that there will be peace.
Mindanao has suffered enough. Let’s give peace a chance now,” de
la Peña said.
-- Anthony Vargas
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