10 February 2015 – International support for the Philippines’ peace and counter terrorism efforts continues to pour in following the incident in Mamasapano, Maguidanao last January 25.
The Russian Embassy in Manila expressed shock and grief over the death of the 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) personnel. “Memory of their valor and self-sacrifice shown while pursuing a noble mission of fighting terrorism will remain in our heart,” Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev said in a letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario dated January 29.
Palau conveyed through its Embassy in Manila “its unwavering support and solidarity with the Republic of the Philippines in condemning such heinous acts of terrorism against Government security personnel.”
Similarly, Mr. Abobaker I.W. Ataweel, the Charge d’Affaires, a.i. of the Libyan Embassy in Manila, conveyed in a letter to Secretary Del Rosario the “earnest hope that, under the leadership of President Aquino, the people of the Philippines will triumph over this tragic incident and continue the pursuit to attain the peace in Mindanao.”
Meanwhile, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende commended the Philippine Government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) “on their unyielding commitment to the peace process,” adding that “Armed conflict is a serious threat to development and has negative consequences far beyond the actual battlefield. A lasting settlement in Mindanao would benefit the entire population of the Philippines.”
“It is now more important than ever to put every effort into the peace process,” Foreign Minister Brende stressed. Norway is a member of the International Monitoring Team for the GPH-MILF peace talks and sits as Vice-chair of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) in charge of the decommissioning process of the MILF forces and arms.
Australia, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States previously expressed support for the Philippine Government’s efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Mindanao as they extended condolences to the families and loved ones of the fallen policemen. END