Mindanao war pulling RP down—US envoy

DAVAO CITY – War in Mindanao is “like an anchor” pulling the entire Philippines down, according to US Ambassador Kristie Kenney.

Kenney, in a speech at a homecoming of alumni of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Muslim Leaders (CIPYML), said peace in Mindanao was crucial not only for the Philippines, but also for the United States.

The CIPYML is a program indirectly funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Lasting peace

Philippine development, she said in the homecoming held at the Marco Polo hotel here, depended on the resolution of the Moro rebellion and lasting peace in Mindanao.

“Until Mindanao achieves its potential, until Mindanao is peaceful and prosperous, it will be like an anchor dragging the rest of the Philippines down,” she said.

“The Philippines will never see its great potential until Mindanao does. And that is important for America because the Philippines is one of our oldest allies and partners,” she added.

“For us to see a third of this nation not achieving its potential, not living in peace, a third of this nation unable to see their products to market, unable to see their young leaders progressing, is for us not only a great heartache but in fact, it’s not good for America either,” Kenney said.

She said the violence that regularly ripped through many parts of Mindanao was “also not good for any of our security.”

Development assistance

“Any day that there are bombs that go off as we’ve seen recently across Mindanao is a bad day for all of us. So for us, Mindanao is incredibly important,” Kenney said.

She said this was the reason the US government pours about two-thirds of its development assistance to Mindanao.

Possibilities

“In short, the possibilities for Mindanao are exceptional. The perils are also great,” she said.

Kenney said the US government wanted to see more American businesses in Mindanao.

She challenged the island’s young leaders, referring to the 126 former interns at the House of Representatives who have gathered here for the first time since 2003, to work hard to make Mindanao a better place. –Jeffrey M. Tupas, Philippine Daily Inquirer