<\/p>\n
A TOTAL of 57 members of the House of Representatives signed a manifesto rejecting the proposal of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for an independent Mindanao.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Among those who signed were 53 lawmakers from Mindanao, three party-list representatives, and one House member from the Visayas.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n All 57 lawmakers refused to heed calls for a Mindanao secession.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe signed the manifesto as one voice, one nation, rejecting all calls for the secession of Mindanao. We will not be a party to an unconstitutional proposal to break the territorial integrity of the Philippines. We make our intentions known, as Mindanao lawmakers,\u201d said Lanao del Norte 1st district Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo who is also the chairman of the House Committee on Muslim Affairs.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Duterte and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez called for an independent Mindanao, which has drawn so much criticism and flak from so many sectors in the Philippines.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe, the elected representatives of Mindanao in the House of Representatives, firmly oppose the calls for the secession of Mindanao from the Republic of the Philippines. Our stance is deeply rooted in our belief in national unity, the power of inclusive development, and the promise of a peaceful, progressive future for all Filipinos, including the indigenous people of Mindanao,\u201d the manifesto read.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMindanao\u2019s vibrant cultural diversity represents the nation\u2019s broader principle of unity in diversity. We stand for fostering understanding and collaboration across all communities within the framework of the Republic, enriching our shared national identity and heritage,\u201d it added<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The lawmakers acknowledged the critical role of Mindanao in the national economy, with an appreciation of the \u201csignificant steps taken by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to prioritize development in our region.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHis administration\u2019s focus on enhancing infrastructure, agricultural revitalization, and economic empowerment in Mindanao is pivotal. These efforts aim to ensure that progress reaches every corner of Mindanao, contributing to the nation\u2019s overall growth and stability,\u201d the manifesto said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOur pursuit of peace and security is aligned with the government\u2019s commitment to reconciliation and the empowerment of the BARMM. We believe that lasting peace is achieved through dialogue, mutual respect, and inclusive governance, under the banner of our sovereign nation,\u201d it stressed.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n They said that the challenges facing Mindanao and the entire country demand collective action and shared responsibility. <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe commend the Marcos administration\u2019s dedication to addressing disparities and fostering a more inclusive development model. These initiatives reinforce our conviction that the aspirations of Mindanaoans for autonomy, recognition and development can be realized more effectively within the context of a united and sovereign Philippines,\u201d they said in the document.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The members of the House of Representatives also expressed unwavering commitment to the importance of upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe call for the diligent prosecution of all individuals and entities fostering disunity among our people, blatantly violating our Constitution, and threatening the sovereign integrity of our nation,\u201d the manifesto stated.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSuch actions not only undermine our democratic principles, the peace and security of our communities, and the collective welfare of the Filipino people but also betrays our oath of office to support and defend the Constitution, and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same, imposing upon ourselves this solemn obligation voluntarily, without mental reservation and purpose of evasion,\u201d it added.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt is therefore imperative that we stand together to protect our constitutional democracy through legal means, ensuring that those who seek to divide us are held accountable under the full extent of the law,\u201d they said. <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The three party-list representatives who also signed the manifesto along with the 53 Mindanao lawmakers are Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo, PBA Rep. Margarita \u201cMigs\u201d Nograles, and Kusug Tausug Rep. Shernee Tan-Tambut.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biliran Rep. Gerardo Espina Jr. was also a signatory to the manifesto.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe path to a prosperous Mindanao lies not in secession but in unity, inclusive growth, and the relentless pursuit of peace. We call upon our fellow Mindanaoans, Filipinos across the nation, and the international community to join us in supporting a vision of a united, equitable, and thriving Philippines,\u201d the manifesto stated.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet us work hand in hand to overcome challenges, celebrate our diversity, and secure a brighter future for Mindanao and the entire country,\u201d it added.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A TOTAL of 57 members of the House of Representatives signed a manifesto rejecting the proposal of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for an independent<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,17],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4043"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4043"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4043\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4045,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4043\/revisions\/4045"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}