MILF: Editorial--One people, one aspiration (Jan 1-7)

Editorial posted to the MILF Website (Jan 1-7): One people, one aspiration

Very soon the Transition Commission (TC) will be constituted. The MILF has already chosen their nominees; the government is expected to follow soon. Without delay, they must start working especially on the drafting of the Basic Law which will serve as law of the Bangsamoro region in Mindanao, after Congress passes a “good legislation” and ratified by the people in a plebiscite.

For slow-footed drafters, two years are too short to be able to finish this task, but for men and women who come from one people with a common vision and aspiration, the timeline is simply too long. Fired by love of people and an obsession to return normalcy to the troubled South, they can do it in less than a year.

Frankly, we do not see any hitch in the discharge of their responsibilities, much more a contradiction in their ranks. Whether they are nominated by the government or by the MILF does not matter; they are all first and foremost Bangsamoro. Moreover, the template within which they have to observe and follow is already provided for in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and its four Annexes, which will be formally signed into as Comprehensive Agreement. This is further entrenched by the Executive Order No. 120 signed by President Benigno Aquino III. Any deviation from this clear track and guideline is very easy to detect and anyone guilty of this is opening himself or herself from the criticism or wrath of the people. The Bangsamoro are now more vigilant and watchful. They know who are working for their higher and legitimate interests and those who serve the vested interest of the few.

The MILF TC members are under obligation to serve the Bangsamoro whole-heartedly and never to be distracted by the evil whispers of the spoilers, deviants, and the envious. We expect the same from the government TC members. As one body, they are tasked to write the Basic Law that would help finally to solve the Moro Question in Mindanao. A weak Basic Law, which does not truly reflect the ideals and aspiration of the Bangsamoro, will only set the stage of another bigger headache in Mindanao. It will only prolong the agonies in this region.

As this editorial goes online, several names for TC members from the government are already floated around such as congressman Simeon Datumanong, former congressman Didagen Dilangalen, Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, Bai Yasmin Busran-Lao, North Upi Mayor Ramon Piang, Undersecretary Nabil Tan, Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, and Atty. Johaira Wahab. All of them are acceptable to us. Surely, we can work with them all, and vice versa, we hope they can work with us without reservations.

http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3019:one-people-one-aspiration&catid=344:gggg