MILF: MILF TC members named, but not for disclosure yet

From the MIL Website (Dec 30): MILF TC members named, but not for disclosure yet



The eight members to the Transition Commission (TC) to be named by the MILF are already chosen but their identities are still under wraps following procedure that they must be transmitted first to Malaysian facilitator, who will officially communicate them to the Philippine government through the government peace panel. Muhammad Ameen, chairperson of the MILF Secretariat, told Luwaran that the selection process was deliberated by the MILF central committee on two separate plenary sessions before the list was completed. He said the most contentious was the slot allotted for Western Mindanao where no consensus had been arrived at after several attempts. It was only settled after the MILF central committee decided to settle it by drawing the lucky name from two nominees, the last to survive from a larger list.

The original stance was to make the decision was by consensus, but this proved to be not enough to settle the last slot. Division of the house was never considered an option to break the deadlock, which was being viewed as divisive. In choosing the nominees, the MILF has set three stringent pre-qualifications: sincerity to the Bangsamoro cause, capability to discharge the task, and geographical or sectoral consideration. Ameen, however, disclosed that included in the nominees were one woman, one member of the indigenous peoples (IP), one senior military commander of the MILF, and one aleem (learned in Islam).

As this developed, Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu has recommended three noted Maguindanaoans to form part of the 15-man Transition Commission (TC) that will draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law. In an interview, Mangudadatu said he had asked the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to include Maguindanaoan lawyers Didagen Dilangalen, Suharto Ambolodto, and Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Simeon Datumanong to the 15 man TC President Aquino is set to appoint. Dilangalen was former congressional representative of the first district of Maguindanao while Ambolodto was active as leader of non-government organizations helping push for the peace process between the government and the MILF.

President Aquino issued Executive Order 120 creating the Transition Commission that will draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law that will serve as basis for the creation of new autonomous political entity and replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

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