Sunday, January 19, 2014

MILF: Public consultations on BBL held in Lagunde, Pikit, North Cotabato

From the MILF Website (Jan 20): Public consultations on BBL held in Lagunde, Pikit, North Cotabato



Some 302 residents of Barangay Lagunde, Pikit, North Cotabato attended a public consultation on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) held at Madrasah Lagunde on January 17.
  
The consultation was spearheaded by the Barangay Local Government of Lagunde through Chairwoman Tarhata Suleik Karim in collaboration with Bantay Ceasefire volunteers of Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) and Oblate Missionary Foundation-Inter Religious Dialogue (OMF-IRD) of Pikit headed by Fr. Roberto “Bert” Layson, OMI.

The event aims to enlighten the grassroots and other stakeholders in the community and deepen their understanding on the importance of the BBL to all inhabitants of the future Bangsamoro government as envisioned in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB).

In her message, Chairwoman Suleik Karim called for unity and solidarity while the peace talks is at its crucial stage and the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law is underway.

“We must be united. We must be cooperative in order to attain our aspiration for peace and self-determination for the Bangsamoro people.” she said

Jose “Bapa Joe” Akmad tearfully mentioned how the Bangsamoro people suffered from pain, hardships and abuses in the hands of aliens during the Spanish and American colonial era.

“There were countless of Moro people who perished defending their homeland, tradition, culture and Islam against the foreigners that even women and children were not spared by colonizers.” Akmad said “I am hopeful and very optimistic that the establishment of the Bangsamoro government would open the portal towards development as we see the end of conflict in Mindanao. By that time with the grace of Allah, there shall be no more mothers and children to suffer.

Datu Antonio Pin Kenoc, alternate member of the MILF peace panel representing the Indigenous people stressed the importance of educating the community (people) on the ministerial form of government.

“They (community) must be educated on the importance and advantage of the new system of government that would replace the current system of governance in the ARMM. This is also the concern of civil society organizations (CSOs)”, Kenoc said.

“The BBL will be the first of its kind to be drafted by the Moros themselves that will benefit them as well in contrast with previous laws that were imposed upon the Moros.” he added.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) is expected to finish the drafting of the law within this quarter of the year and shall be forwarded to President Benigno C. Aquino III for certification as urgent bill and indorse it to the Philippine Congress for enactment into law. It will then be ratified in a plebiscite by the people in the proposed region.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/775-public-consultations-on-bbl-held-in-lagunde-pikit-north-cotabato

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