Actor's daughter urges government rebels to spare lives of civilians in Mindanao

CAMP SIONGCO, Ma­guindanao – The daughter of Muslim convert actor Robin Padilla yesterday urged both the government and the Moro rebels to spare the lives of civilians and children by ending hostilities in the South through peaceful negotiations.

“Please have mercy on the children who are now out of school because they have to flee with their parents, please talk peace,” the 17-year-old Queenie Padilla said after she distributed relief assistance to evacuees in Pikit, North Cotabato and Talayan, Maguindanao.

“Innocent people are suffering, especially children,” she said after leading the staff of her father’s Liwanag ng Kapayapaan Foundation and officials of the Office of Muslim Affairs-National Capital Region in relief distribution.

“I am happy I help provide them with some relief goods but that is not enough, the more they stay in crowded evacuation centers, the more they need food,” she said.

“I am happy with what I’m doing here but also sad because the evacuees are in a very deplorable situation,” Queenie said.

The central office of The OMA and Muslim communities in Manila solicited relief goods and cash donations for families displaced by armed conflicts in North Cotabato and Maguindanao. – John Unson