CBCS conducts ‘Candidates Forum and Dialogue for Peace’

By Muhair Abdullah

April 8, 2010 - The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) , one of the largest civil society groups in Mindanao, met and talked to Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu last April 6 in Buluan, Maguindanao.

Mangudadatu, who is running for a gubernatorial post in the province of Maguindanao, welcomed the CBCS delegation headed by Sammy Maulana, CBCS Secretary-General and Murshid Mascud, chairman of the Kutawato Regional Management Committee (KRMC-CBCS).

The CBCS asked all the gubernatorial candidates for Maguindanao to sit and discuss pertinent issues with the civil society.

“The activity aims to open a venue of understanding on the civilian protection; internally displaced persons (IDP), good governance and human rights issues and concerns, and peace and development initiatives,” Maulana stressed.

Abdulbasit Benito of the Bangsamoro Center for JustPeace (BCJP), who was also with the group, said that “hopefully, it (the meeting) would crosscheck on how civil society’s platforms work parallel with that of the candidates’ platforms.”

One of the highlights of the ‘question-and-answer’ with Mangudadatu was the query on what will he do on his first 100 days in office should he win as provincial governor.

Mangudadatu said his priorities include improvement on such services as education, health, agro-loans, among other tangible programs. He also talked on the importance a mobile hospital.

Pressed on the IPD issues, Mangudadatu said that facilitating the return of the IDPs to their places of origin will be hard since these people have no more homes and livelihood to return to.

The gubernatorial candidate acknowledged the imperativeness of the civil society groups and the provincial government unit working hand in hand.

“The meeting with Mangudadatu was very fruitful and we expect to talk to the two other gubernatorial candidates, Datu Midpantao “Antao” Midtimbang and Datu Ombra Q. Sinsuat,” said Jehan Amella of the Moro Women Development and Cultural Center (MODECC).

The CBCS members who joined the delegation were MOWDECC, Mindanao Resource Development Center (MRDC), United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), BCJP, PUSAKA Inc., Mindanao Women for Active Governance (MWAG), UNYPHIL-Women, and CBCS Central.