PRESIDENT Aquino poses for a photo with Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, after their meeting in Tokyo in August. MALACANANG PHOTO
COTABATO CITY鈥擳he Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday urged Mindanao鈥檚 first cardinal, Orlando Quevedo, to use his clout as a respected religious leader and peace broker to promote the peace process between the government and Moro guerrillas and put an end to the bloodshed in the island-region.
Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, said guerrillas have high hopes that Quevedo will help in the peace process because of his 鈥渢rack record in fostering peace, harmony and coexistence in Mindanao.鈥�
As a young priest and even as Cotabato archbishop, Quevedo has been active in promoting interreligious dialogue among Christians, Muslims and lumad.
He once said聽 he considered peace brokering as his 鈥減rimordial missionary task鈥� and that he had always wanted 鈥渢o establish just and lasting peace in Mindanao.鈥�
The government鈥檚 peace panel in talks with the MILF said the elevation of the 75-year-old Quevedo to a major position in the Catholic hierarchy was a 鈥渨onderful blessing and a portent of many positive developments to come as we push for peace in the south.鈥�
鈥淚t reflects the recognition that the Vatican gives to the peace process in Mindanao, our very own contribution to the global call of Pope Francis to work for peace,鈥� the government peace panel, led by Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, said in a press statement on Wednesday.
The government鈥檚 peace negotiating body also described Quevedo as 鈥渁 beacon of hope that will surely augur well for the Mindanao peace process.鈥�
Quevedo of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate founded by Blessed Eugene de Mazenod had contemplated on retiring before the Vatican announced his appointment as a cardinal, according to people close to him. Reports from Charlie Se帽ase and Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao