Describing the present electoral system as “very divisive” to the point that “families are splitting up,” Mohagher Iqbal, Chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Panel and of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), the body tasked by the government and MILF to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law, said the new electoral system mulled for the future Bangsamoro must address these concerns, said the report by MindaNews on October 29. “We will decide that in the BTC,” Iqbal told MindaNews in a text message.
The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) signed on October 25, 2012 provides for the creation of Bangsamoro, a new political entity and that the Bangsamoro Government shall have a ministerial form that would “entrench an electoral system suitable to a ministerial form of government.”
“The electoral system shall allow democratic participation, ensure accountability of public officers primarily to their constituents and encourage formation of genuinely principled political parties. The electoral system shall be contained in the Bangsamoro Basic Law to be implemented through legislation enacted by the Bangsamoro Government and correlated with national laws,” the FAB said.
Before the new electoral system is entrenched, however, the first hurdle is still the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Basic Law which will be held under the current electoral system immediately after its passage before end of 2014.
In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22, Aquino called on Congress to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before yearend 2014.
According to the FAB, upon promulgation and ratification of the Basic Law, the ARMM is “deemed abolished” and all devolved authorities are vested in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) during the interim period.
The FAB adds that the ministerial form and Cabinet system of government shall commence once the BTA is in place. The BTA “may reorganize the bureaucracy into institutions of governance appropriate thereto.”
MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim told MindaNews days after the May 2013 elections that they considered that election as “a testing ground” for the MILF because “officially, we did not participate in the elections. We were just gauging.
But part of the “testing,” Murad said, was that the MILF last year encouraged its members to register during the general re-registration in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It also urged the registered voters among its members to vote for candidates supportive of the peace process.
“We did not endorse a candidate so we gave members free will on who they want, who can help in the peace process. Not everyone in the MILF voted because there are those who are not registered voters,” Murad said, adding that they encouraged members to “register in preparation for the plebiscite.”
Murad also said the MILF was going to create a political party starting this year.
“We are more inclined to form a political party because we want to maintain the status of the MILF as an Islamic organization. We are more inclined to form a political party that will be the arm of the MILF for the political process,” Murad said in May.
The political party Murad said they would set up “starting this year” apparently has not been set up. Iqbal said the MILF did not participate in the October 28 barangay elections which is supposed to be crucial for the MILF in preparation for the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Basic Law because the election is “very divisive” and “families splitting up.”
Clan politics is pervasive in the predominantly Moro areas.
Details on the manner of elections will be crafted by the 15-member GPH-MILF Bangsamoro Transition Commision as soon as the Annex on Power-Sharing is approved and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is signed.
Two Annexes to the FAB are still to be signed to complete the Comprehensive Peace Agreement: the Annex on Power-Sharing and the Annex on Normalization, said the report by MindaNews.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/630-electoral-system-for-bangsamoro-should-address-pervasive-clan-politics
“The electoral system shall allow democratic participation, ensure accountability of public officers primarily to their constituents and encourage formation of genuinely principled political parties. The electoral system shall be contained in the Bangsamoro Basic Law to be implemented through legislation enacted by the Bangsamoro Government and correlated with national laws,” the FAB said.
Before the new electoral system is entrenched, however, the first hurdle is still the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Basic Law which will be held under the current electoral system immediately after its passage before end of 2014.
In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22, Aquino called on Congress to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before yearend 2014.
According to the FAB, upon promulgation and ratification of the Basic Law, the ARMM is “deemed abolished” and all devolved authorities are vested in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) during the interim period.
The FAB adds that the ministerial form and Cabinet system of government shall commence once the BTA is in place. The BTA “may reorganize the bureaucracy into institutions of governance appropriate thereto.”
MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim told MindaNews days after the May 2013 elections that they considered that election as “a testing ground” for the MILF because “officially, we did not participate in the elections. We were just gauging.
But part of the “testing,” Murad said, was that the MILF last year encouraged its members to register during the general re-registration in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It also urged the registered voters among its members to vote for candidates supportive of the peace process.
“We did not endorse a candidate so we gave members free will on who they want, who can help in the peace process. Not everyone in the MILF voted because there are those who are not registered voters,” Murad said, adding that they encouraged members to “register in preparation for the plebiscite.”
Murad also said the MILF was going to create a political party starting this year.
“We are more inclined to form a political party because we want to maintain the status of the MILF as an Islamic organization. We are more inclined to form a political party that will be the arm of the MILF for the political process,” Murad said in May.
The political party Murad said they would set up “starting this year” apparently has not been set up. Iqbal said the MILF did not participate in the October 28 barangay elections which is supposed to be crucial for the MILF in preparation for the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Basic Law because the election is “very divisive” and “families splitting up.”
Clan politics is pervasive in the predominantly Moro areas.
Details on the manner of elections will be crafted by the 15-member GPH-MILF Bangsamoro Transition Commision as soon as the Annex on Power-Sharing is approved and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is signed.
Two Annexes to the FAB are still to be signed to complete the Comprehensive Peace Agreement: the Annex on Power-Sharing and the Annex on Normalization, said the report by MindaNews.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/630-electoral-system-for-bangsamoro-should-address-pervasive-clan-politics
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