MILF firm on pushing for lead role in Bangsamoro transition

From GMA News (Jan 17): MILF firm on pushing for lead role in Bangsamoro transition

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will insist on leading the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and vowed to push for a clear agreement with the government stating such. At a forum in Makati City on Thursday, MILF chief negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal said it is only proper that the MILF lead the transition authority since it was the one that negotiated and signed a framework agreement with the government. “We are partners in the negotiation, we signed the framework agreement, we headed the transition commission and then all of the sudden someone has taken in place of the MILF leading the Transition Authority,” Iqbal told local and foreign reporters.

“In negotiation, we cannot allow vagueness. We have to be clear, otherwise you are just suspending the controversy to some other time. We have to be very clear right now,” he added. The latest round of negotations in Malaysia in December ended in impasse and without a signed joint statement when the government panel insisted on naming the Transition Authority as “Bangsamoro-led Transition Authority” instead of “MILF-led Transition Authority.” The Bangsamoro framework agreeement, signed in October 2012, states that all devolved authorities shall be vested in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority during the interim period.

It also states that “the ministerial form and Cabinet system of government shall commence once the Bangsamoro Transition Authority is in place." The Bangsamoro Transition Authority may also "reorganize the bureaucracy into institutions of governance appropriate thereto." In her New Year's message in December 2012, government panel head Miriam Coronel Ferrer said “both parties are open to consider options on the remaining eight or so issues, across the annexes, including the 'technical impasse' pertaining to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.” “We firmly believe that there is no deal-breaker in this process, in which much trust and effort have been invested, and for which much more support will be given,” she added.

Iqbal, for his part, said they trust President Benigno Aquino III but “the real assurance is in the document.” He said the government and MILF are expected to meet this month for another round of talks. He expects the annex on modalities and transitional arrangements to be finished first followed by the annex on power sharing.

Ferrer earlier said that the annexes would be finished in two months. She said there has been important breakthrough in coming to terms with the principles that will guide the “intergovernmental relations” between the Central and Bangsamoro governments and constituent parts such as the principle to settle conflicts in laws, programs or policies in a non-adversarial manner. She said this way harmony is maintained between and among the parts not only under the Aquino administration but also under all future national administrations.

Also, the three lists defining the allocation of powers – reserved to the Central government, devolved or exclusive to the Bangsamoro, and concurrent – are almost complete and only about four power-sharing issues remain to be discussed. “These remaining issues are substantial and rather technical. The parties have agreed to solicit advice from technical experts to help them find workable solutions,” she said.

She said there is a working consensus on a new and better sharing formula in relation to government revenues derived from the exploration and utilization of natural resources. “This wealth-sharing formula, a set of devolved taxes, and the system of block grants reflect the mutual desire of the two parties to achieve sustainable self-governance and fiscal autonomy for the Bangsamoro,” Ferrer had said.

She said that soon, the government and MILF panels will be presenting to the public a jointly produced road map that shall serve as the official guide to the implementation of the framework agreement signed in October last year.. “There are many more consensus points in the current draft annexes. These will be openly discussed in due time,” she said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/290779/news/nation/milf-firm-on-pushing-for-lead-role-in-bangsamoro-transition