The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has started preparations for their eventual active participation in the electoral process in the country once residents of the upcoming Bangsamoro government elect new leaders.
Following the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro, the MILF is expected to actively participate in the May 15 synchronized national and local elections, including the election of CAB officials.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has also announced the schedule of registration of new voters on May 14 until October this year ahead of the preparations for the next national and local balloting.
Voters’ education sessions for combatants and supporters have been initiated by the MILF leadership.
Ghazali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, said his group will actively participate in the 2016 polls even as the group expects the elections will be cleaner due to experiences on cheating.
In the May 2013 elections, the MILF clearly observed the process and found out that dirty politics was still present and active, particularly in the ARMM.
“There was the prevalence of three Gs – gold, guns and goons,” Jaafar said in a statement. “We hope the government could do something better, it improve the process but as long as guns and goons and money would still be used by politicians the chances of winning of good aspirants are clearly defeated.”
In last year’s election, the MILF helped the government in ensuring the conduct of peaceful and orderly election in areas where there were MILF forces.
The MILF then did not participate but took notice of the dirty process which it fear would still exist in the 2016 elections.
A non government organization working for Islam and democracy in the country, said the MILF should push with its plan to form its own political party as it already agreed to democratic processes of electing leaders.
”As a political party, you have the vote, the power and the machinery,” Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) President Amina Rasul said.
Brillantes said the poll body projects three million new voters to show up to register through biometrics. Poll officials expect more half million will come from MILF and its supporters and sympathizers in areas to be covered by the new political entity.
Presently, the country has more than 53 million registered voters.
Brillantes urged the youth, especially those turning 18 by May 2016 to come out, register and avoid hassle.
He said the Comelec will start implementing expressed lanes for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and detainees during the biometric registration period in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 10367, or an Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voters Registration.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=633162
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