The joint statement, signed by Army Brig. Gen. Edgardo Gurrea for the Philippine government and Von Al Haq for the MILF, condemned “to the highest degree” the January 10 bombings in the cities of General Santos, Kidapawan and Cotabato that left six people dead and 30 others wounded.
In a statement, the Joint Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (Joint CCCH) of the government and the MILF said the “dastardly and cowardly act” is a
“handiwork of barbaric, uncivilized and totally misguided people whose intention is nothing but to inflict serious injuries, destroy lives of innocent people, and perpetrate instability as well as terrorism. This act is a crime committed against humanity and, therefore, deserves the indignation of the entire human race.”
The joint CCCH was in General Santos City for its monthly meeting at the East Asia Royale Hotel here on January 9 and the tripartite meeting with the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team on January 10.
The two parties also expressed “heartfelt sympathy to the victims of these satanic bomb blasts” and added they “want to see the perpetrators of this inhuman act to be brought to justice in the soonest possible time.”
The two parties also appealed to the public to “remain calm and to fully cooperate with the duly constituted authorities in order to thwart the group behind the bombings and immediately curb their evil motives and agenda.”
“It is our firm belief that no amount of malevolent acts such as this spate of bombings by evil-guided people or organized group can succeed to cow our people and our common desire to realize peace, development and human security,” the joint statement said.
“We are totally convinced as well that these bombings can never impose negative effects to the ongoing GRP-MILF peace process. This can never disrupt, neither derail, the smooth-sailing peace overtures being undertaken by the government and the MILF anchored on finding a just and enduring solution to the conflict in Mindanao, that is the good of all its people regardless of race or religion,” it said, adding their assurances to the public “that the resolve of the joint GRP-MILF CCCH to protect the interest of peace and goodwill and gains of the GRP-MILF peace process on the ground became even more unshakeable in the midst of these demonic bombing incidents.” (MindaNews)
