Thursday, March 12, 2015

MILF: JICA to continue supporting the Bangsamoro inspite delays of the BBL

Posted to the MILF Website (Mar 11): JICA to continue supporting the Bangsamoro inspite delays of the BBL


JICA to continue supporting the Bangsamoro inspite delays of the BBL















On March 7, 2015, Mr. Toshiyuki Koruyanagi visited for the third time the islands of Mindanao as JICA’s Vice President. He recalled his first visit to the island was 40 years ago and he was deployed in Pagadian City as an Agriculture Expert.

He narrates his experience in working in this part of the Philippines was challenging and yet so beautiful. His second visit was 5 years ago as the Director General of JICA Headquarters and still found Mindanao as beautiful as even before.

He visited the office of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission and pays a courtesy call to the Chairman, Mr. Mohagher Iqbal, and several Commissioners who received and welcomed him. As the Vice President of JICA, he conveyed his organizations’ condolences to the bereaved of the January 25th Mamasapano incident and that the Japanese Government is hoping that it will not impact a major dissolution to the Proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. He said that JICA have been with the Bangsamoro for a long time and will always be with them to assist their effort in the peace making.

BTC Chairman shared to JICA’s Mission that everywhere they go the cry of the people is peace and for the honorable settlement of the conflict, but there are situations that are beyond the control of the MILF just like what happened in Mamasapano.

 The said incident was something a matter of a priority of the government for counter terrorism and at the same time a conflict resolution. Chair Iqbal further explained to the Japanese Officials that the binding document between the MILF and the GPH was the signed document and not on the issue of the application of the national laws.

He added that if the national laws of the Philippine will be applied, then necessarily the consequences will be that MILF will be treated as criminals as what many lawmakers were trying to propose. The incident of the Mamasapano was treated by the MILF as a violation of the signed Ceasefire Agreement between the Government and the MILF. It is also a violation of the Terms of Reference of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) and also a complete departure from the policy of the government in the primacy of the peace process which was also violated there. The PNP SAF Commanders set aside completely that primacy of the government, as BTC Chairman continues.

Ms. Mary Ann Bakisan, Senior Program Officer of JICA Philippine Office, about what specific provisions of the BBL that may be amenable to MILF if Congress and Senate would change or open for improvement. BTC Chairman explained to the delegation that the issues there that were treated as contentious were the constitutional bodies namely, the Commission on Civil Service, Commission on Election, Human Rights Commission, and the Commission on Audit. All these constitutional bodies and all the offices that to be established in the Bangsamoro are part of the constitutional bodies, they are not distinct and separate. BTC knows that those commissions that will be establish are pursuant to the Constitution and what they will be establishing are offices like the Bangsaoro Electoral Office is still and always be a part of the COMELEC. Chair Iqbal clarifies that on the matter of formulation, for improvement, we are amenable to that but if watered down; they cannot accept it, that’s the strong position of the MILF.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/774-jica-to-continue-supporting-the-bangsamoro-inspite-delays-of-the-bbl

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