Priest warns vs BUC in discussions on MOA

MANILA, Philippines - A peace advocate on Tuesday said that members of the Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC) should not be allowed to participate or even lead the discussions regarding the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Instead of the BUC, the proponent said that the discussions should be led by non-partisans like the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines or CBCP. The warning was aired by Father Eliseo “Jun" Mercado, lead convenor of the National Peace Council. “There is this perception that the BUC is partisan. The one who should lead in the debates should not be associated with an institution whose credibility is bankrupt," Mercado said. He made the remark during the regular forum sponsored by the CBCP held at the Ilustrado restaurant in Manila. “Everybody knows and even the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) knows that the BUC is funded, supported and being treated in fine restaurants by the government or the Office of the President on the Peace Process (OPAPP)," he added. President Arroyo has requested the BUC to spearhead a civil society initiative to come up with a framework for lasting peace in Mindanao. According to Mercado there is really a need for a non-partisan group to lead in the discussions on the controversial agreement citing the lack of credibility of the government. “Definitely there is a need for a non-partisan group such as church people who will lead in the discussions and debates on the MoA because the government cannot lead that because their credibility is almost nil," he said. The priest said the CBCP is a very good candidate due to its scope all over the country. Aside from the CBCP, Mercado said the Protestants and the Ulamas, could also be tapped for such an endeavor. Similarly, Mercado said that the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order (TRO) on the MoA should stay in order to come out with a better ruling later. “I would rather see that the SC maintains the TRO. Do not rule on the merit and demerit of the MoA but rather open a real consultation and debates nationally or regionally," he declared. - GMANews.TV