Roxas hit for allegedly fomenting anti-Muslim sentiment

MANILA, Philippines – A former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) commissioner hit Sen. Manuel Roxas II over the weekend for allegedly fomenting anti-Muslim sentiment when he announced that Christians in Panay Island are now raising funds to arm their brothers in Mindanao and oppose the creation of an expanded Muslim autonomous region.

Lawyer Nasser Marohomsalic told reporters during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel forum in Quezon City last Saturday that high-ranking government officials particularly senators, are unnecessarily raising alarm over the proposed memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He said Roxas, who is among the strong advocates against the supposed agreement, is practically agitating anti-Muslim sentiments, an allegation that Roxas vehemently denied, stressing he is for peace in Mindanao.

“The statement of Senator Roxas has created strong anti-Muslim sentiments,” Marohomsalic said.

He said the controversy over the ancestral domain issue in Mindanao has practically diverted the attention of the people from the economic crisis facing the country, including the high prices of commodities and oil.

The former CHR commissioner said the ongoing peace negotiations with the MILF are just a repeat of the peace negotiation of the government with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which resulted to the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Marohomsalic said the proposed memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain only aims to expand the coverage of the present ARMM but the area is actually lesser compared to the original accord forged with the MNLF.

Roxas, for his part, said he is for peace in Mindanao, but not for  an unconstitutional agreement like the GRP-MILF agreement on ancestral domain.

Roxas said that peace won’t be achieved through force and threats just like what he claims is advocated by former AFP chief and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and the Arroyo government. – With Aurea Calica