Umabot sa 57 miyembro ng Kamara de Representantes, kabilang ang 53 na taga-Mindanao, ang lumagda sa United Manifesto for National Integrity and Development na kumokontra sa panawagan ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na ihiwalay ang Mindanao sa Pilipinas.
“We signed the manifesto as one voice, one nation, rejecting all calls for the secession of Mindanao. We will not be a party to an unconstitutional proposal to break the territorial integrity of the Philippines. We make our intentions known, as Mindanao lawmakers,” sabi Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo.
“We, the elected representatives of Mindanao in the House of Representatives, firmly oppose the calls for the secession of Mindanao from the Republic of the Philippines. Our stance is deeply rooted in our belief in national unity, the power of inclusive development, and the promise of a peaceful, progressive future for all Filipinos, including the indigenous people of Mindanao,” nakasaad sa manifesto.
Ito ay bilang reaksiyon sa panawagan ni Duterte at Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez para ihiwalay ang Mindanao sa Pilipinas na umani ng pagbatikos sa iba’t ibang sektor.
“Mindanao’s vibrant cultural diversity represents the nation’s broader principle of unity in diversity. We stand for fostering understanding and collaboration across all communities within the framework of the Republic, enriching our shared national identity and heritage,” ayon pa sa dokumento.