Koko: Jaafar a 'peacemaker' who fought for peace in Mindanao

Senate Trade and Committee Chair Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III today joined the country in honoring Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) First Vice Chairman Ghazali Jaafar, who was lain to rest on Wednesday in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The senator from Mindanao called Jaafar "one of the architects of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)" and credited him for his efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the decades-old conflict in Mindanao.

Quoting the Bible, Pimentel said "blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

"Mr. Jaafar was a peacemaker who was not afraid to fight--to fight for his beliefs, to fight for the Bangsamoro, and to fight for the right of Mindanawnons to a peaceful, prosperous, and progressive Mindanao," said the legislator.

The PDP-Laban President said that he and Jaafar "shared a common desire to bring peace to Mindanao and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL)."

"Mr. Jaafar's work will forever be remembered by us and future generations of Filipinos who will benefit from his tireless pursuit of a peaceful resolution to a conflict that has brought pain and misery to thousands of families--Muslim and Christian alike."

Pimentel said he was glad that the highly-respected MILF leader was able to witness the passage and ratification of the BOL, a law Jaafar helped craft.

"As a new dawn for the Bangsamoro people breaks with the ratification of the BOL and the establishment of the BARMM, I am happy that Mr. Jaafar lived to see this historic moment, and hope that the our people forever recognize his significant contributions to forging a just and lasting peace in Mindanao."