Presidential hopeful Gonzales to promote inter-faith cooperation to address insurgency

Presidential aspirant and former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales said he would promote inter-faith understanding and cooperation to address social concerns in Mindanao, including Muslim insurgencies, if he wins in May.

Gonzales said one of the major concerns in Mindanao is to prevent Muslim insurgencies from “turning into a religious conflict between Christians and Muslims.”

“The future of Mindanao should be determined by the peace-loving people of Mindanao. The future of the Bangsamoro should be defined by the peace-loving people of Bangsamoro,” he said in a statement.

“We can no longer allow the armed groups of Mindanao to shape the future of Mindanao and of the Bangsamoro. There is no need for tools of violence to discuss the direction of Mindanao,” he added.

Gonzales urged leaders of communities in Mindanao to engage in dialogue with the national government, citing that as to where they want to bring their communities and the whole Mindanao.

“The armed groups can join this effort but we should no longer allow them to dominate the process,” he said.

“The Bishops-Ulama conference is the fruit of continuing efforts to promote inter-faith dialogue and cooperation. That is why its role in the new approach to pursuing peace in Mindanao is crucial,” he added.

Gonzales, who also served as National Security Adviser under the Arroyo administration, will run under the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP). — BM, GMA News