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Mindanao solons sign manifesto rejecting Duterte's 'secession' campaign

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RG CRUZ

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Nearly all House representatives from Mindanao have signed a manifesto rejecting the proposal floated by former President Rodrigo Duterte to separate Mindanao from the Philippines, Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo told a press conference Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/9/duterte-ally-defends-mindanao-independence-push-after-marcos-objection-1149">Duterte ally defends Mindanao &#x27;independence&#x27; push after Marcos objection</a></div><p>&quot;Our stance is deeply rooted in our belief in national unity, the power of inclusive development, and the promise of a peaceful, progressive future for all Filipinos, including the indigenous people of Mindanao,&quot; the manifesto against secession said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/2/peace-adviser-calls-out-duterte-push-to-separate-mindanao-1253">Peace adviser calls out Duterte push to separate Mindanao from PH</a></div><p>There is no mechanism in the 1987 Constitution, which defines the national territory of the Philippines, for regions to secede from the republic.</p><p>Dimaporo said 53 out of the 60 congressmen of Mindanao have rejected the secession of Mindanao earlier floated by Duterte and by Davao del Norter Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.</p><p>&quot;We are one with our President that we don&#x27;t need to move backwards to the time of darkness in the region of Mindanao,&quot; Dimaporo said.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has called the movement a &quot;travesty&quot; to the constitution, saying also that it is doomed to fail.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/2024/2/8/marcos-call-for-a-separate-mindanao-doomed-to-fail-1927">Marcos: Call for a separate Mindanao &#x27;doomed to fail&#x27;</a></div><p>Dimaporo urged local executives of Mindanao to come out and state their stand on the secession call.</p><p>&quot;I hope this call for an independent Mindanao will quite frankly be shut down by all 4 corners — all levels of the government — of our leaders in the Mindanao region,&quot; Dimaporo said.</p><p>&quot;I think the 19th Congress — it&#x27;s very clear that we will not support a movement for an independent Mindanao,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/1/duterte-s-dream-of-mindanao-secession-practically-impossible-lawyer-1502">Duterte&#x27;s &#x27;dream&#x27; of Mindanao secession &#x27;practically impossible&#x27;: lawyer</a></div><p>The manifesto also urges the prosecution of those sowing disunity.</p><p>Alvarez earlier said they were mobilizing a &quot;peaceful and orderly advocacy campaign&quot; for Mindanao &quot;independence&quot;, contrary to claims that what they were doing was &quot;seditious.&quot;</p>