At least two opposition personalities on Monday hailed the Supreme Court's (SC) temporary restraining order (TRO) on the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"I commend the Supreme Court for issuing a temporary restraining order on the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the government peace panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front," Sen. Pia Cayetano said.

She added that instead of criticizing the the high court, the people should be grateful for its "quick and decisive intervention in this issue."

Cayetano clarified she is in favor of pursuing the peace process in Mindanao.

She, however, said, "the entire country deserves more time to study the legal, constitutional and socio-economic implications of this particular agreement."

"I hope that the Arroyo government learns from this experience by exercising more transparency and circumspection. It should start by opening the GRP-MILF agreement to full scrutiny by the Supreme Court, Congress, the local government units and people of Mindanao, and other concerned sectors."

Erap agrees

Former President Joseph Estrada likewise commended the Supreme Court for its restraining order.

"The foremost duty of the President is to protect the territorial integrity of the nation," he said.

Like Cayetano, the former president said that the people want peace in Mindanao.

"But it must not be obtained at the expense of our territorial integrity, and certainly not by methods that desire transparency and are in apparent haste," he said.

During Estrada's short-lived term, he ordered an all-out war against the MILF.

Hands tied

Malacañang, meanwhile, said it cannot do anything at this point but to submit to the high court's order.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said that as ordered, the signing of the pact on Tuesday in Malaysia will not take place.

"On a positive note, the TRO will provide opportunity for everyone now to dispassionately and objectively view and examine the draft MOA. An early legal and constitutional test wil further strengthen the agreement," Dureza said.

He said that the delay in the peace process should not matter.

"A little delay will not matter if ultimately we achieve what every Mindanaoan has long been dreaming of," he said.