Open letter to Mindanao leaders ‘WE HAVE WAITED LONG FOR THIS, LET’S NOT SQUANDER THE CHANCE’

My beloved leaders of Mindanao:

Our friend, Rody Duterte, is now leading in the surveys.

While the surveys say he is tied for first with Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares, the fact is he is way ahead in the preference of voters. You know it. We all know it. Our people are showing their feelings and this is the truth that cannot be denied.

The contest now is between Rody Duterte and Grace Poe. Forget about Jejomar Binay and Manuel Roxas III. After the Cebu Debate, both Binay and Roxas are effectively out of the race.

Just a little more push and our friend, Rody Duterte, will surely become the next President of the Philippines.

I write to you, not only as a former Governor myself and president of the League of Governors, City Mayors and Mayors of Mindanao for six years, but as a Mindanaoan who understands the inequity in the sharing of the national wealth and the eternal control by Manila-based politicians of our politics in the island, especially in the Bangsamoro area.

(The truth is it is Malacañang which decides who would be the Regional Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.)

I write to you as a Mindanaoan who for the last 50 decades or so has seen how conflict and violence destroyed our lives and stunted the growth of this island once known as the Land of Promise.

Let me start with the inequitable sharing of the national wealth.

In the 2016 National Budget, 33% of the P3-trillion money pie is allocated for Metro Manila. That is effectively P1-trillion.

Visayas only gets 14% or P420-billion and Mindanao gets P570-billion. The remaining 44% is allocated for the rest of Luzon.

I have no beef with the rest of Luzon getting 34% because it’s such a wide area which covers Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, Palawan and Mindoro.

But 33% for Metro Manila with a land area which is three times smaller than the whole of Davao City?

Unfair? Yes, grossly unfair, especially for Visayas but more so for Mindanao because we produce over 50% of the country’s food requirements.

So, what would a Duterte Presidency bring?

It would mean more funds in areas where these are needed to boost food production. It would mean more income for our farmers, more job opportunities and more economic activities.

With the expected realisation of the Mindanao Railway System, which is Duterte’s banner program for the island, movement and transport of goods would be faster.

It would dramatically change the economic status of people in the island where five of its provinces are included in the 10 Poorest Provinces in the country.

Let’s talk about peace.

Nobody in the Presidential candidates’ line up now understands the Mindanao problem more profoundly than Duterte.

The key word in achieving peace in Mindanao is Trust.

The Bangsamoro people trust Duterte, not only because he has a quarter of their blood, but mainly because as Mayor of Davao City, he showed fairness and compassion.

The New People’s Army has an open communication line with Duterte. They trust him.

As a Christian leader who has been vilified because of my stand against the MOA-AD, I trust Duterte and whatever he decides on in resolving the Mindanao conflict, I will support.

Why? It’s simply because I trust him and I know he has no hidden agenda.

With these arguments, I now come to you, my dear friends who are now the incumbent political leaders of Mindanao.

The common reasons presented by many of you in refusing to support Rody Duterte are:

1. Administration kasi kami kaya Liberal Party ang suportahan namin. Party loyalty;

2. Malaki kasi ang pondo na ibinigay sa amin, nakakahiya naman na di suportahan si Mar;

3. Kumpare ko kasi at Brod ko si VP Binay or endorsed kasi ni Boss Danding (Cojuangco) si Grace;

“Party loyalty?” My Eye. Will your party be loyal to you if you lose in the elections? You are only needed by your party if you could deliver votes for its candidates.

The moment you lose in an election, your party will drop you like a hot camote. Party Loyalty is a one-way street. Ask former Congressman Jun Piñol, the original Liberal Party chairman for North Cotabato.

“Malaking pondo?” Those funds are government funds. It’s not President Aquino’s or Roxas’ money. They are not even enough to lift five provinces of Mindanao from poverty.

“Kumpare o brod ka ni Binay?” So, that is more important than your relationship with the people who voted you to office?

“Endorsed kasi ni Boss Danding.” Well, I’m still effectively a member of NPC even if I have retired from politics but I am sure that Ambassador Cojuangco understands why I am campaigning hard for Rody Duterte. He is our best choice right now.

We all have to make personal sacrifices to make this dream come true. I have decided to retire from politics to focus on the campaign for Rody Duterte. Also, I did not want to complicate the political situation in my province, North Cotabato.

My dear friends, the survey figures now indicate that Rody Duterte is only expected to get 49% of Mindanao’s 14-million votes.

In spite of that, he is already tied for first.

Let us rally behind him and give him 80% of the votes in Mindanao and we will have our first President who carries the dreams and aspirations of our country’s Tri-People – Christians, Muslims and the Indigenous People.

Let us not allow our political differences at the local level to affect the Presidential bid of Rody Duterte.

Just fight your local political battles but when it comes to the Presidency, let us all throw our support behind the man who could bring progress and peace, not only to Mindanao, but the entire country.

May this week of Lent provide you serene moments to ponder on the thoughts of this open letter.

Should you see the light and decide for the sake of your people to support Rody Duterte, please send me a message through this Facebook page or better still text me at 09167972871.

Yours for Mindanao, the Philippines and the Filipino people.

Manny Piñol

Governor, North Cotabato 1998-2007

President, League of Mindanao Governors, City Mayors, Mayors – 2001-2007