Moreno hopes Galvez, Ayi retained for peace process

WITH President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. set to assume office on June 30, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno hopes that key advisors to the country’s peace process be retained beyond June 30.

“Di man na maundang especially with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It has to be sustained otherwise all the gains achieved will be needlessly thrown away. It will be a huge setback (if the peace process is scrapped). So the way I see it, peace process advisor Carlito Galvez Jr. and consultant Ariel ‘Ayi’ Hernandez may be retained or at least be consulted,” Moreno said.

During his ‘Gikan sa Katawhan, Ibalik sa Katawhan’ program, Moreno said Hernandez’s post as presidential peace process consultant of Galvez since his appointment isn’t political in nature.

“Ayi (enjoys the full trust of) Galvez even if Ayi didn’t vote for BBM. Ultimately it’s the call of the incoming defense secretary (if he wants to retain Galvez and Ayi),” Moreno said.

Since Hernandez ran as Moreno’s running mate during this month’s elections, he cannot assume a plantilla position and can be tapped only as a consultant, Moreno said.

“I’m sure Ayi isn’t wanting in terms of jobs but the gains achieved during the peace process under Galvez’s watch shouldn’t be wasted. Ayi is the workhorse of Galvez (in the peace process),” Moreno said.

Galvez is the incumbent presidential peace process advisor of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte since 2018 and is also the concurrent vaccine czar of the national government’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign.

“As a former military official Galvez and his contemporaries (in government service) may have their political leanings but ultimately they are professionals concerned only with service,” Moreno said.

Hernandez also said the peace process with the MILF shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially in light of the planned decommissioning of arms by the group which was supposed to be done before the end of June.

“The complexity and other factors involved in implementing any peace agreement (aren’t) easy because it’s dependent on the relations between both parties,” Hernandez said.

Both Moreno and Hernandez agreed that sustaining the gains of the peace process and agreement with the MILF is more beneficial to the country since it cannot afford another internal war.

“Whatever happens, we will submit a report detailing the experiences and gains on the agreement (that will serve as the blueprint) for the next group,” Hernandez said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)