Maguindanao 2nd District representative and senatorial candidate Dong Mangudadatu is hopeful that peace will still reign in Mindanao amid the Lanao Sur incident that claimed the lives of four members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the wounding of eight police personnel.
Mangudadatu also wished the incident would not affect the election campaign or the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“Sa aking pananaw meron tayong due process, may investigation, depende sa kalalabasan ng investigation ng PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) kung ano ang puno’t dulo ng nangyari sa Lanao (In my view, we have due process, there is an investigation, it depends on the outcome of the investigation by the PNP and AFP on what triggered the incident),” the legislator said.
“We have due process.”
The lawmaker begged off from further commenting on the incident, saying, “I am still assessing the issues and concerns, depending on the result of the investigation.”
Both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are set to conduct an inquiry into the encounter in Barangay Ilian, Madamba, Lanao del Sur, where four members of the MILF were killed and eight policemen were injured in running gun battles on April 4.
Madamba is said to be part of the MILF zone, although the Lanao del Sur provincial police claimed there was no known MILF zone in the town.
Mangudadatu said all sectors should allow the normal administration of justice and avoid making speculations that would derail the investigation.
Meantime, he said the election campaign will continue as it is the only platform to let the people know about the political agenda of the candidates.
“The election campaign will continue.”
Mangudadatu, who is running under the banner of the party of President Rodrigo Duterte – the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and strongly endorsed by the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, is pushing a P.E.A.C.E agenda. P.E.A.C.E stands for Prosperity, Education, Agriculture, Cultural Unity, and Energy.
The President has endorsed the candidacy of Mangudadatu, describing him as “one of the good leaders of the Moro people, who will promote peace in Mindanao.”
“Tulungan ninyo ako, maski ito lang. Kasi hirap ako sa Mindanao na mag-ayos ng mga tribu-tribu. So, hingin ko ay isa lang. Masabi ko lang na may isang senador na aalagaan mo, kasi he will promote peace in Mindanao,” the President said during one of the campaign sorties of PDP-Laban.
Mayor Duterte, the founding chairperson of the HNP, also expressed full trust in Mangudadatu as the key to Mindanao’s peace and progress.
