BAGUIO CITY – Former Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza assured Cordillera leaders and the people that he will be much stronger and aggressive in leading the lobby for the passage of the long overdue legislative measure establishing the Autonomous Region in the Cordillera even in a private capacity.
In a phone patch interview aired over RPN-DZBS early Friday morning, Dureza, who vowed the champion the region’s renewed quest for autonomy in the Palace, said that he will not leave behind what he had started because it is his obligation as an adopted son of the Cordillera to bring to the attention of President Rodrigo R. Duterte the verdant desire of the Cordillera people to achieve autonomy in the enabling environment presented by the present administration.
“I am more saddened about what happened, having to resign from my post primarily because of delicadeza. I assure the Cordillera people that I will stand by you in pursuing what we have already started, lobbying for the passage of the law that will create the Autonomous Region in the Cordillera. I did not mean to orphan the autonomy advocates and I will make my presence felt in the Cordillera,” Dureza stressed.
He claimed that he will volunteer his services to continue lobbying the region’s renewed quest for autonomy to the incoming peace adviser, retiring Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, because he is familiar with the government’s peace process considering that the Bangsamoro Organic Law has already been put in place, thus, the need for the counterpart peace initiative in the north to be put in place, which is the establishment of the Autonomous Region in the Cordillera to complete the overall peace cycle.
In July 14, 2017, Dureza was adopted as a son of the Cordillera and was given the local name ‘mensapit’ or peacemaker in recognition of his passion for the achievement of lasting peace in the whole country.
Dureza was also instruments in working out the first-ever meeting of some 120 Cordillera leaders with President Duterte in Malacanang on July 18, 2017 where the chief Executive vowed to certify the pending autonomy bills in Congress as priority administration measures for their supposed immediate passage.
The former peace adviser disclosed that he will revive his foundation focused on the advocacy for federalism and autonomy so that it will be his vehicle in bringing to the attention of lawmakers and Palace officials the need to complete the government’s peace process by also putting in place of the Cordillera autonomous region.
According to him, his resignation from his post should not be treated as a lost cause for the region’s clamor for autonomy because there are numerous avenues on how he can help in advancing the quest for self-governance wherein he will have more time to visit the Cordillera and convince sectors to sustain the vibrant autonomy advocacy to send a clear message to lawmakers and Palace officials that it is what is needed for growth and development regionwide.
He urged Cordillerans to extend the needed invitation for him to grace whatever autonomy-related activities in the region starting next year so that he will be able to make his presence felt no longer in Mindanao but now in the Cordillera until the realization of the put up of the autonomous region.
By HENT
Banner photo: ADOPTED- Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan, in native attire, joins Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza in an ethnic dance during the turn-over of the Cordillera Unity Gong to Baguio City from the province of Ifugao. Sec. Dureza was invited as guest speaker and eventually was adopted as son of the region. He was given the name ”Mensapit” meaning a peace maker. (July 14, 2017) JOSEPH B. MANZANO
