Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Saturday said secession is not the solution to Mindanao’s problems, adding that it would violate the basic principles of the Philippine Constitution.
Abalos made this statement in reaction to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for Mindanao to secede from the rest of the country.
“To ensure continued peace, progress, and development in Mindanao, the Philippines must remain united and undivided,” said Abalos.
He added the move would destroy the territorial integrity of the Philippines, and disrupt decades of painstaking effort to build a stronger union among all our peoples and ethnicities.
“The people’s right to self-determination should be exercised within the framework of the state. Self-determination means that the people pursue political, economic, social, and cultural development while respecting the state’s territorial integrity and legal process,” explained Abalos.
“Indeed, the people of Mindanao have the freedom to make political choices or pursue economic, social, and cultural progress. Various mechanisms manifest the government’s respect and recognition for the development needs of Mindanao, such as the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),” he added.
Abalos said BARMM is a powerful example of addressing historical grievances and providing self-governance within the bounds of Philippine law.
“In this regard, we urge all stakeholders to uphold the sanctity of the Philippine Constitution for a strong, united, and undivided nation,” he said.
Abalos made the statement a day after Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez urged the public to turn away from any action that would destabilize the country, including the former president.
Galvez said the move to separate Mindanao is anathema to the Constitution and would go against the present administration’s push for unity across the country. He also called on the public to continue supporting the administration’s push for peace, reconciliation, and unity.
He said that even members of former revolutionary groups are already helping the government in pushing for true peace and sustainable development in the Bangsamoro region through inclusive, people-centered moral governance.
“Mindanao has already shed its image as a land of volatility, violence, and armed struggle. It has now become a symbol of hope, mutual understanding, and solidarity, and most of all, a shining example that good things come to those who choose the path of peace,” Galvez said