The Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW) reaffirms its support for Presidential Adviser Teresita “Ging” Deles amidst calls for her resignation by some legislators who are unfortunately led by members of congress from Mindanao.
We note with regret this act of Congress as this does not bode well for the government as well as for the peace talks with the MILF which is set to resume in November.
To further aggravate the situation, a resolution has been filed in Congress calling for a P1.00 budget allocation for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) for 2011 from the P235 million proposed budget. This move is sadly way too far from what we expect of our legislators and does not render justice to a duly mandated government office to dispose of its function.
It is also a blatant dismissal of government’s efforts at strengthening its institutions to enable it to effectively promote its peace and development programs.
We have had the opportunity to meet with Secretary Deles on a few occasions since she assumed office and laud her continuing efforts at promoting and ensuring civil society’s participation in the peace process and in establishing a consultative mechanism to ensure it.
Secretary Deles remains to be the staunch peace advocate that she is with a firm resolve and goodwill to steer the peace process forward.
Thus, we call on President Noynoy Aquino to stand by Sec. Ging Deles and preserve the integrity of her office against the political maneuverings of some legislators.
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