(Opening statement of Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, during the MILF-FOCAP Forum on the Peace Process at Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on August 9. 2010)

Mr. Alastair McIndoe, President of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines
My Colleagues in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Mr. Manny Mogato and other members of the FOCAP
Members of other media organizations, who are here with us this morning
Ladies and Gentlemen

The Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines (PCBL) views with concern the recent report, initially by UNICEF-Manila, of the discovery of at least 11 pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the vicinity of Lapok Elementaty School, Bgy. Lapok, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.  This is part of the state of the nation, though it will probably not be included in the new President Aquino’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) address today.