ZAMBOANGA CITY (Hader Glang / 06 Jan) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appointed Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) chairman Jesus Dureza as Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAP), replacing Teresita Deles.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced the appointment of Dureza at Malacañang Friday.
Deles resigned from the Arroyo government last year.
Mindanao political leaders and many civic and business organizations hailed Dureza's appointment, saying, he is well respected and active in pursuing the government's peace agenda in the south.
As former government chief negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Dureza played a crucial role in forging a truce with then MILF panel chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim that hasten the peace process.
Dureza, who was former Davao City congressman, is President Arroyo's adviser for Mindanao and active in government programs in southern Philippines.
As Secretary of OPAP, Dureza shall pursue a comprehensive peace process agenda anchored on these principles and components.
A community-based comprehensive peace process reflecting the sentiments, values and principles important to all Filipinos. Thus, it shall be defined not by government alone, nor by the different contending groups only, but by Filipinos as one community.
A comprehensive peace process that aims to forge a new social compact for a just, equitable, humane and pluralistic society.
And to establish a genuinely pluralistic political society, where all individuals and groups are free to engage in peaceful competition for predominance of their political programs without fear, through the exercise of rights and liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and where they may compete for political power through an electoral system that is free, fair and honest.
Also to seek a principled and peaceful resolution of the internal armed conflicts, with neither blame nor surrender, but with dignity for all concerned.
And the pursuit of social, economic and political reforms (that address the roots of the armed conflict); consensus-building and empowerment for peace; peaceful, negotiated settlement with the different rebel groups; programs for reconciliation, reintegration into mainstream society, and rehabilitation; and to address concerns arising from the continuing armed hostilities. And the building and nurturing a climate conducive to peace. (Zamboanga Journal)
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