From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 14): Maguindanao alliance reaffirms unity for Bangsamoro
Amid political dissention within their ranks, Maguindanao leaders converged here on Thursday and renewed unity in reaffirming of their support to the government’s peace overtures with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the creation of a parliamentarian autonomous region called Bangsamoro.
Expression of pledges capped the second general assembly of the Alliance of Lumad, Iranun and Maguindanaon (ALIM) at the Al-Nor convention center in this city. ALIM a tri-people political bloc comprised mainly by the mayors, vice mayors and representatives of various sectors from Maguindanao’s 36 towns.
Assembly participants tackled vital community peace and security issues in a day-long session jointly presided over by Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, Vice Gov. Lester Sinsuat, and Rep. Sandra Sema.
Sema, congressman of the first district of Maguindanao, is a member of the House ad-hoc committee tasked to legislate the draft Basic Bangsamoro Law (BBL).
The draft BBL prescribes for the creation of a Bangsamoro entity pursuant to two major peace deals signed by the government and MILF.
Lawyer Abubakar Katambak, a senior provincial board member and one of the organizers of the ALIM assembly, said the event also disproved assertions by “hostile” political quarters that local officials in Maguindanao are split in their respective positions on the government’s ongoing peace overture with the MILF.
“There are speculations that local leaders in the province are politically disunited. No, we are not. We cannot get disunited under any situation,” Katambak said.
Other ALIM officials even cited commendations from the MILF leadership and incumbent officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that among the ARMM five provinces, Maguindanao has manifested the staunchest support to the government-MILF negotiations.
http://www.mb.com.ph/maguindanao-alliance-reaffirms-unity-for-bangsamoro/
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