A security official has stated that the Philippine government is prepared to utilize “authority and forces” to prevent any efforts to divide the country, in response to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to separate certain southern islands from the rest of the archipelago.
Duterte has advocated for the autonomy of his native Mindanao region, breaking ties with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr due to conflicting views on revising the constitution.
Marcos claimed that altering the 1987 constitution was intended to attract more foreign investments, but Duterte accused him of exploiting constitutional change for his own political gain.
In a statement, Eduardo Ano, the national security adviser, declared that the government will use force to counter any efforts to secede. He referenced recent calls to divide Mindanao, but did not mention Duterte by name.
According to Ano, the national government will not hesitate to utilize its power and resources to suppress and put an end to any efforts to divide the country.
According to Ano, advocating for separation could undo the progress made by the government’s peace agreement with previous separatist organizations.
For many years, Mindanao has been plagued by violence and conflict due to the government’s fight against insurgents and extremists. This has caused a lack of investments and has resulted in poverty in numerous villages.
The biggest rebel organization in the region, the MILF, made a peace deal with the Philippine government in 2014. They stopped fighting for independence and instead gained more autonomy in a Muslim area known as the Bangsamoro.
The leader of Bangsamoro, Ahod Ebrahim, declared on Friday that he is dedicated to upholding the peace agreement. Carlito Galvez Jr, the government’s peace process adviser, urged Filipinos to reject any attempts to disrupt the country.
On Saturday, Philippine military leader Romeo Brawner instructed troops to stay united and uphold the constitution and chain of command.
Source: theguardian.com
