By Edd K. Usman, Manila Bulletin

 

Do presidential candidates really have a heart for Mindanao? Or are they just paying lip service?

 

Mindanao leaders can’t help but wonder as groups have began preparations for the November 29 “Kusog Mindanaw Dialogue with National Candidates” at the Waterfront Hotel in Davao City.

 

Organizations involved in the event are the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) and its partners – the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), the Local Government Development Foundation (LOGODEV), the Zamboanga-Basilan- Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA), and the Notre Dame University (NDU).

 

The organizers invited four presidential candidates – Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Grace Poe-Llamanzares, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas; and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

 

A staff of IAG told the Manila Bulletin yesterday that only the Vice President accepted the invitation which is a venue for presidential aspirants to present their platforms of government and their solution to existing problems, particularly the paralyzing power outages besetting Mindanao.

 

The IAG staff said the event will also be an occasion for the people of Mindanao to meet and know the four candidates wishing to replace President Aquino on June 30, 2016.

 

REAL CONCERN

 

She said Santiago, Poe and Roxas had already sent their regrets citing prior commitments.

 

Father Eliseo Mercado Jr., OMI,  a founder of IAG, said: “VP Jojo (Binay) re-adjusted his schedule to be with us. (It is a) great testimony of his concern for Mindanao and listen to Mindanao constituency.”

 

He said Binay’s taking time to be with Mindanao leaders and going to listen to them, is a powerful sign of his real concern for Mindanao.

 

“The Vice President shows real concern by taking time from his busy schedule to be with us. He is also approachable and ordinary people have access to the man without ‘cordon sanitaire’ or protocol,” Mercado said.

 

One of Mindanao’s most influential prelate, Mercado said with only one presidential bet coming to the Kusog Mindanao dialogue, the day belongs to Binay.

 

Also invited to the forum are senatorial candidates from Mindanao, namely: Sen. Teofisto Guingona,  boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Sulu Princess Jacel Kiram, Bai Nariman Ambolodto, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.