Marcos continues to urge rebels to surrender

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday continued to urge insurgents in Mindanao to surrender as he vowed government support if they laid down their weapons. 

“We are still trying to bring those who are still fighters to come down from the mountains and to join society,” Marcos said in a media interview after he witnessed the destruction of around 400 surrendered firearms during the Panabangan Si Kasanyangan (Peace Offering Ceremony) at Sumisip, Basilan.

Marcos then gave his assurance that the government would give them aid, livelihood, and shelter if they surrendered.

“And we, for our part, will continue to support everything that they need in terms of housing, in terms of livelihood, in terms of schools, in terms of infrastructure. And that’s the role that we will play,” Marcos added.

He also led the distribution of eight motorcycles to former rebels to support their livelihoods.

In his speech during the event, Marcos said the province of Basilan was once a “ground zero” of war but has since turned into an epicenter of peace.

“A province that was once tainted by violence and terrorism is now a zone of peace, made possible not by military might alone but more so by a people saying no to violence,” he said.

“Peace is more than the cessation of hostilities. It is about the creation of a social order that values human dignity, improves lives, and promotes progress,” Marcos added.

Marcos, during his second State of the Nation Address, has previously said he will be granting amnesty to rebel returnees.

Marcos said such amnesty, which needs Congress’ concurrence, is necessary to sustain the gains in the fight against insurgency.

Marcos thus urged national and local government agencies to push for the development of Basilan and other areas that were once considered as “conflict areas” in the Philippines. 

“Although the ceremonies that we have here is really very simple, it is a symbolic of a very important day because this is a testament to the commitment of all stakeholders to peace,” Marcos said.

“As I said in my speech, when we talk about peace, it does not only mean the cessation of the violence, what it also means is that we continue–that we, the national government and the local governments, and the autonomous government, all work together to make sure that the livelihood and the progress will come to Basilan and all of the other provinces who are once areas of conflict,” he added. —Jamil Santos/ VAL, GMA Integrated News