MNLF faction backs MILF on BBL passage

From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 7): MNLF faction backs MILF on BBL passage

One of the three factions of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has formalized its commitment of support to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in its bid for the passage and implementation of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, MNLF faction chairman, and MILF chieftain Hadji Murad Ebrahim signed an official communiqué Monday, affirming their common desire for the establishment of the Bangsamoro autonomous political entity sought under the BBL, which is due for deliberation by the 16th Congress upon resumption of its sessions this month.

The symbolic signing ceremony was held at the MILF’s Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao where Alonto and more than 50 fellow key MNLF leaders were received by the MILF central committee led by Ebrahim and First Vice Chairman Ghazali Jaafar.

Through the communiqué, the MNLF’s Alonto group reiterated its “full support to the full implementation” of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement (FAB), the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and its annexes that the MILF and the government signed prior to the crafting of the BBL, which translates into legal language such peace agreements.

The MILF “central committee fully appreciates and welcomes wholeheartedly the gesture and manifestation of support of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under the leadership of Brother Datu Abul Khayr D. Alonto,” Ebrahim, for his part, said in the communiqué.

“Both parties mutually agree to continue working together to foster strong Unity, Solidarity and Brotherhood as one Bangsamoro People, anchored on the Principles of what they fought for in order to attain freedom with Justice for the Bangsamoro, in line with their inalienable and inherent right to self-determination, Insha-Allah,” the joint statement said.

Alonto and his companions, including members of the MNLF pioneer Top 90 group and four succeeding batches alongside Bangsa Bae (female supporters), travelled from the two Lanao provinces, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and the Zamboanga peninsula for the event.

Noorulhayat “Baby” Alonto, wife of the MNLF faction chair, said most of the MILF comrade-guests Monday belonged to the Lam Alif Directorate, which she described as “the group that led Muslim youth activism in the ‘60s that made them earn the name ‘Blackshirts’ and from where the core group of the FF90 were recruited.”

“Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), the two fronts agree to unite and work together on the prompt passage and implementation of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL),” the female Alonto told the Bulletin.

House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. assured last week his chamber’s passage of the BBL by the first quarter of this year, even as he urged President Aquino to ask support from his allies in the Senate to adopt the peace measure for presidential signature “on or before March 30” and the holding of plebiscite for the Bangsamoro region “on or before June 30.”

The BBL passage will effectively abolish the 25-year old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and put in place the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) that would carry out thrusts for the ratification of the law and subsequent establishment of the Bangsamoro parliament entity.

The referendum will cover the electorates of the proposed Bangsamoro territories, which include the whole of ARMM (comprising Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan), the cities of Cotabato and Isabela, six towns in Lanao del Norte and 39 villages in six towns of North Cotabato.

http://www.mb.com.ph/mnlf-faction-backs-milf-on-bbl-passage/