The members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC)) held a press briefing for the first time in Manila on April 3, 2013 morning, facing members of national media from print, television and radio.
The occasion gave an opportunity for the public to know who the members of the BTC are, understand their roles, and be updated on the progress of the GPH-MILF peace process.
The 15 members of the body led by Mohagher Iqbal, concurrently the Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel, were formally introduced to the members of the press.
Iqbal said among the preliminary steps the BTC need to undertake include crafting of internal rules and organizing the secretariat and committees. He stressed they cannot start to discuss most substantive parts of their tasks unless the remaining annexes of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro is discussed and signed by the parties.
He hoped the three annexes will be finished before the May 13 Elections The third annex dwell on normalization which is the “hardest nut to crack” that include the decommissioning of MILF combatants and firearms, the gradual redeployment of government troops to other areas and the constituting of the policing of the Bangsamoro area.
However, Iqbal said it could be a continuing agenda and could be settled as long as the parties continue to discuss it.
Iqbal is optimistic for the success of the BTC having the President Aquino as “sincere partner.” He also said that they need to surmount any obstacles that shall be encountered along the way.
He added they will move forward and will be able to see if there is a need for constitutional amendment. One of the three main tasks of the Commission is to make proposal if necessary for the amendments of the constitution to accommodate the agreements of the Parties without derogating the previous peace agreements.
Members of the media were curious as for the position of the BTC on Sabah issue. The BTC chair and other members said the issue on Sabah claim is not part of discussion of the basic law and it is beyond the mandate of the BTC.
The MILF chief negotiator said Sabah has never been part of the agenda nor part of any peace negotiations.
He added that Malaysia as facilitator to the GPH-MILF Peace Talk is already institutionalized and the two parties have been holding talks since 2001.
Atty. Johaira Wahab, a member of BTC, said the Sabah is a diplomatic issue between the Malaysian and Philippine governments. “As much as we want to comment on our personal stand on Sabah issue, that is beyond our mandate as a group,” she pointed out. “We need to work on our mandate,” she emphasized.
The BTC hoped to finish the Basic Law by 2014 and establish the Bangsamoro Transition Authority by 2015. Once the BTA will be put up, the ARMM will be abolished. Part of the process of crafting the basic law is consulting the Moro people and those that will be affected by the basic law.
The two panels will continue to exist until they will sign an Exit Agreement that will officially terminate the negotiation and when there will be no more issues left to be discussed. An exit agreement will only be signed if and only if all the agreements are fully implemented.
A Third Party Monitoring Team comprised of international representatives will evaluate the implementation of all the agreements and the progress of the transition.
The transition commission will be holding office in Cotabato City. The body will also discuss among themselves how to break any impasse that may be encountered in the course of crafting the basic law.
http://www.luwaran.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3114:bangsamoro-transition-commission-held-press-briefing-in-manila&catid=31:general&Itemid=41
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