Amid a proposal for the separation of Mindanao from the rest of the country, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año warned on Sunday, Feb. 4, that the national government will not hesitate to use force to suppress any attempt to "dismember the Republic."
Año rejected the proposal made by his former boss, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, to establish a "separate and independent" Mindanao as he underscored the importance of "national unity, security, and stability."
"The National Government will not hesitate to use its authority and forces to quell and stop any and all attempts to dismember the Republic," the NSA pointed out.
"Any attempt to secede any part of the Philippines will be met by the government with resolute force, as it remains steadfast in securing the sovereignty and integrity of the national territory," he stated.
The adviser explained that such call for division of the country only undermines the Filipinos' collective progress and prosperity. He stressed that the strength of the country "lies in our unity and any attempt to sow division must be rejected by all sectors unequivocally."
"It is imperative for all Filipinos to uphold the principles enshrined in our Constitution which espouses the unity and territorial integrity of our nation. Any suggestion of secession not only runs counter to the Constitution but also threatens to undo the hard-won gains of peace and development, particularly in Mindanao," Año said.
The NSA cited the comprehensive peace process in Mindanao as to one of the primary reasons as to why the separation of the island from Luzon and Visayas shall be rejected.
"The comprehensive peace process, which has brought an end to decades of armed conflict in Mindanao, must be vigorously safeguarded and built upon. The dividends of peace are now clearly evident in the transformation of the entire Mindanao from a region of volatility and violence to one of progress, stability, hope," he said.
Last week, Duterte had raised the idea of having a "separate and independent" Mindanao from the Philippines after expressing his disappointment with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Año, a retired military general and known Duterte ally, had his fair share of experience in battling against Moro separatists, communists, and local terrorists to attain peace and progress in Mindanao.
He is best remembered for leading the military's resistance against members of the terrorist Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf Group who laid siege in Marawi City in 2017, as he was serving as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief at the time under the Duterte administration. The urban battle lasted for five months before the government took back the Islamic City of Marawi from the clutches of terrorism.
After gaining the trust of Duterte, Año was given heavier Cabinet roles as he was appointed as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary from 2018 to 2022; vice chairman of the National Task Force Against Covid-19; and co-vice chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Año said it is essential to approach discussions about Mindanao's development and autonomy within the framework of national unity, solidarity, and supremacy of the Constitution instead of sowing ideas that would cause division.
He went on to reaffirm the commitment of the National Security Council (NSC) to safeguard the security, stability and territorial integrity of the country.
"We call upon all Filipinos to remain vigilant against attempts to sow discord and division and to work together towards a future of peace and prosperity for all," Año said.
Aside from Año, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., another known Duterte ally, also rejected the proposal for the secession of Mindanao.