The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) today lamented what it called a lack of support by Catholic bishops in Mindanao for the ongoing peace process in the region.

Only five bishops out of 21 supported negotiations between MILF and the government, according to a statement by the rebel group, while some were even campaigning against the peace process, it added.

“It makes a lot of difference if [the bishops] can be reached and then finally engaged in a more positive way. After all, peace in Mindanao is for everybody and not only for the Moros,” said rebel spokesman Mohagher Iqbal, without naming the bishops.

He urged members of the clergy to take a position on the negotiations, which earlier this year saw both sides reach a landmark consensus on “substantive issues,” including setting up a new political region that would meet MILF’s demand for a “Moro homeland” in Mindanao.

Iqbal said that although the Catholic Church has played a “very encouraging” role in efforts to end the decades-long conflict in Mindanao, there remained areas that the bishops could work on in “a more sustained manner.”

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro, the former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCP), agreed with the rebels.

“I think that the CBCP should also talk about [the peace process] because it’s really important,” he said.

Ledesma said that he would raise the issue with bishops when they hold their plenary assembly in Manila next month.

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