Arroyo urges southern Philippines to give Muslim self-rule a chance
Arroyo urges southern Philippines to give Muslim self-rule a chance
COTABATO, Philippines (Agencies): President Gloria Arroyo, in
the southern Philippines ahead of a crucial plebiscite, urged
voters Monday to give Muslim self-rule a chance amid strong
opposition from Christian areas.
"Let us resolve to forge unity out of our diversity, to make
ourselves complete and united despite differences in faith and
culture," Arroyo said in a speech to local officials during a
brief visit.
"Let us help turn the ARMM plebiscite into a day of
reconciliation and brotherhood for Philippine Muslims and
Christians."
However, Philippine local officials on Monday in Manila
predicted a massive "no" vote for the expansion of a four-
province autonomous Muslim region in the south, where President
Arroyo visited on the eve of the crucial plebiscite.
Even Arroyo concedes the proposal is sure to lose in key areas
like Zamboanga city.
Local officials in the mainly Christian provinces are
campaigning for a massive "no" vote.
"We do not want to experience the hardship of our Muslim
brothers in the ARMM," said North Cotabato provincial governor
Emmanuel Pinol.
Pax Mangudadato, the Muslim governor of the multisectarian
Sultan Kudarat province, is adopting a similar stance.
"We are better off today. Why should we join ARMM?" he said.
"It would be like bashing our own head with a rock."
Even ex-rebel leader Nur Misuari, the region's governor, has
slammed the plebiscite as an "exercise in futility" and is
calling on Muslims to join a boycott.
"The outcome will not be binding on us," he warned.
Misuari insists that the plebiscite violates the peace pact
between Manila and the MNLF, which he claims provides for the
automatic expansion of the coverage of the ARMM after a
transition period.
The four provinces of the ARMM account for 4 percent of the
Philippines' total land area. But the area is predominantly poor
and contributes just 0.9 percent of the country's gross domestic
product, according to official figures.
It was set up following a 1989 plebiscite and its creation
helped convince the MNLF to sign a peace treaty with Manila in
1996 ending a separatist guerrilla campaign begun in 1971. The
MILF broke away from the MNLF in 1978.
More than 4.9 million Filipinos from 15 provinces and 14
cities, including the western province of Palawan and its capital
city of Puerto Princesa, are eligible to vote on whether they
want their province or city to join the ARMM.