GPH team explains FAB, addresses concerns of stakeholders

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 24): GPH team explains FAB, addresses concerns of stakeholders

Government peace panelists continues to reach out to major stakeholders in various parts of Mindanao, this time in Christian dominated towns in North Cotabatonear the areas where a new political entity is expected to be established anytime soon.

Shuttling through a series of multi-stakeholders’ forums in the municipalities of Pikit, Midsayap, and Pigcawayan in the province of Cotabato, the GPH peace negotiating panel led by Prof. Miriam Coronel Ferrer explained the peace gains of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Joining Coronel-Ferrer in explaining the FAB and the annexes on territory, wealth-sharing, power-sharing, and the transitional arrangements and modalities were peace panel members Presidential Assistant for Muslim Concerns Yasmin Busran-Lao, former Agriculture Sec. Senen Bacani, GPH legal team head Atty. Johaira Wahab, Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) chairman BGen. Gilberto Jose Roa, Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) chairman BGen. Roland Amarille, Peace Program Officer Wendell Orbeso, and Cotabato 1st District Congressman and chair of the Special Committee on Peace Jesus Sacdalan.

Coronel-Ferrer expressed confidence that genuine peace is finally close at hand, citing the recent visit and turnover of government services of President Aquino to MILF communities during the launching of the Sajahatra Bangsamoro program at the BLMI Compound in Camp Darapanan last Feb. 11.

“Malapit na nating makamit ang kapayapaan para sa lahat--isang kapayapaan na tuloy-tuloy na. Hindi iyong kapayapaan ngayon tapos gyera na naman sa susunod na araw. Sinisikap po natin ngayon na maging permanente ang tigil-putukan para sa buong kinabukasan natin, sa pangkalahatan, at sa susunod pang mga taon at dekada. (We are close to attaining peace--a lasting peace. This will not be the fleeting kind where we wake up at war again the next day. We are doing our best to achieve a ceasefire that will last a lifetime and for the succeeding years and decades),”

Coronel-Ferrer said. The GPH FAB advocacy team addressed the concerns and apprehensions of farmers, local government officials, businessmen and the academe in the three municipalities on the creation of the Bangsamoro autonomous entity.

Certain barangays in the municipalities of Pikit, Midsayap and Pigcawayan which voted for inclusion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2001 are included in the envisioned core territory of the Bangsamoro.

Among these issues are the apprehensions of the elected local government officials that their terms of office will expire by the time their local government units are annexed to the Bangsamoro in case majority of their constituents voted for inclusion during the plebiscite.

Coronel-Ferrer explained that the elected officials of the local government units who choose to be included in the Bangsamoro will remain in their positions. “Malinaw na hindi tatanggalin ang mga local government officials (It is clear that local government officials will not be removed from their positions),” she said.

Coronel-Ferrer clarified that it is the elective offices in the ARMM that will be abolished and replaced upon the creation of the new Bangsamoro entity. However, the terms of office of elected ARMM officials will not be cut short.

“Contiguous” issues The advocacy sessions also brought up issues on the envisioned core territory to be included in the Bangsamoro. Some stakeholders asked “what if a local government unit who voted ‘yes’ during the Bangsamoro plebiscite is not adjacent or contiguous to the core territory? Would it still be included in the Bangsamoro?”

Atty. Johaira Wahab clarified that as per the FAB, the envisioned core territory will consist of (a) the present geographical area of the ARMM; (b) the municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal in the province of Lanao del Norte and all other barangays in the municipalities of Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigkawayan, Pikit, and Midsayap that voted for inclusion in the ARMM during the 2001 plebiscite; (c) the cities of Cotabato and Isabela, and (d) all other contiguous areas where there is a resolution of the LGU or a petition of at least 10 percent of the qualified voters in the area asking for their inclusion at least two months prior to the conduct of the ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Being 'contiguous' is an important consideration for inclusion in Bangsamoro.

Equal representation Undersecretary Yasmin Busran-Lao explained that the Bangsamoro will take on a ministerial form of government. She explained that this will strengthen the party system where the people will vote for the party and according to the programs put forward by the parties.

Busran-Lao also urged the stakeholders to form among themselves parties to represent the different sectors including the farmers, women, youth, and the indigenous peoples. “So ito po yung kinagandahan nito. Hindi mo kikilalanin sino yung siga, sino yung anak ng kung sino, sino yung mayaman, sino yung dynasty. (So this is the beauty of it, you will not be subject to intimidation by the powerful, or the wealthy as well as those who belong to political dynasties),” she said.

Protection for all Busran-Lao further reiterated that the rights of all the people in the Bangsamoro including the Christians and IPs will be respected and that vested property rights will be protected.

She also clarified that it is only the Muslims in the Bangsamoro who will be covered under the Shari’ah Law, and underscored that the Philippine Constitution will apply to all inside the envisioned autonomous entity. “Ang Bangsamoro ay para sa lahat--Muslim, Kristiyano, at Lumad para tuldukan na ang lahat ng di pagkakaunawaan. (The Bangsamoro is for all--Muslims, Christians and IPs to finally end all misunderstandings),” she added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=500775