Advocacy on FAB held in Zamboanga City; Mayor Lobregat in attendance

From the MILF Website (Jan 28): Advocacy on FAB held in Zamboanga City; Mayor Lobregat in attendance

MILF supporters and sympathizers held an advocacy forum on the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) on January 20, 2013. The group named their program as ‘’GPH-MILF partnership on Peace Advocacy” with the theme “Bridging the Unity of the Bangsamoro a roadmap solution to Mindanao problem”.

Invited to the program as guest speakers were well known personalities in the city including Zamboanga City 1st District Congresswoman Maria Isabel Climaco-Salazar, 2nd District Congressman Enrico “Amor con amor” Basilio Fabian, WESMINCOM (AFP) Commander Lt. Gen. Ray Aldo, Zamboanga City Chief of Police (PNP) P/S Supt. Edwin Ocampo , Silsilah Foundation President Rev. Fr. Sebastian de Ambra, Peace Advocate of Zamboanga (PAZ) President Rev. Fr. Angelo Calvo, Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) President Dr. Milabelle E. Ho, Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinRHAC) President Atty.Galluash Ballaho, Muslim religious scholars, representative from Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and, of course, the City Government Chief Executive Mayor Celso L. Lobregat.

Mayor Celso Lobregat honoured the invitation but continued his gripes against the inclusion of any part of Zamboanga City in the proposed Bangsamoro government. In his remarks, Lobregat uttered these words: “We Zamboanguenos are for peace but we don’t want Zamboanga City be included in the ARMM or any name or moniker for the proposed Bangsamoro New Political Entity”. In his characteristic ways, he claimed that “Moro” is characterized by banditry, rapist, robbery, murder, usury, incest and etc. However, report received by Luwaran disclosed that Lobregat’s continued sour-griping did not spoil the program.

Also invited to shed lights on the FAB were former executive director of the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI), Dr. Tomanda Antok, and former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Assemblyman/Lawyer Atty. Nazer Ynawat who was not able come due to illness.

On his part, Tomanda delivered what the people highly expected from him but did not get away without answering difficult questions from the critics of FAB during the open forum despite thoroughly explaining all provisions of the FAB from the establishment of Bangsamoro to the putting in place of the regular Bangsamoro government in 2016.

Zamboanga City Muslims Students Association (MSA) acted as secretariat of the forum from start to finish.

In the same forum, Ibrahim Albani, a contender for the Sultanate of Sulu, stole the limelight from the Committee for his bold remark that “there would be bloodbath among Moro Muslims if they are not consulted until the Comprehensive Compact Agreement between the GPH-MILF is signed”. The warning was published in the local newspaper by the local media the day after.

http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3068:advocacy-on-fab-held-in-zamboanga-city-mayor-lobregat-in-attendance&catid=31:general&Itemid=41