MILF to assert deals signed with Aquino

From the Daily Tribune (Feb 17): MILF to assert deals signed with Aquino

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) vowed to continue asserting signed agreements with the government of the Philippines (GPH) yesterday despite the “death” of its proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The MILF stressed that no law or person can terminate the fundamental elements of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) which led to the crafting of the BBL.

“They are the heart and soul of the struggle of the Moros for right to self-determination. No law or not anyone can extinguish them,” the MILF stated in its latest editorial posted over its website.

“We will continue to assert them and tell government not to continue to renege on its obligations contained in signed agreements,” it added. The MILF maintained that the non-passage of BBL by the Senate and the House of Representatives does not mean it is already dead.

“The BBL is not dead and will never die,” the MILF declared.

At the same time, the MILF scored Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce-Enrile for his declaration that BBL is already dead.

The MILF reminisced Enrile’s role as martial law implementor during the Marcos regime.

“His hands are full of Moro blood!”, the MILF said.

However, the MILF said it is not burning bridges with Enrile, saying “if we cannot agree on certain matters, we just leave them that way.”

“Man has the capacity to change or not to change. Let history handles them,” the MILF said.

The MILF earlier said that it will continue to pursue peace negotiations with the next administration anchored on previous signed agreements.

The Aquino administration signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) that led to the formulation of the CAB which, in turn, gave birth to the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) that crafted the BBL.

The BBL underwent rough sailing in both the Senate and the House of Representatives –striking several provisions which were declared unconstitutional.

Iqbal cites frustration

MILF peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal said there is “widespread frustration on the ground by our people and members of the MILF” as result of the failure of government, particularly Congress, to pass the BBL.

Iqbal said, however, that the MILF will continue to seek ways and means to address the dangerous situation and avoid actions that may increase the frustrations.

He pointed out that, “The most immediate step is either the BBL will be refilled in Congress or a new basic law, faithful to the letter and spirit of the CAB, will be crafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), which will most likely have new faces as members. This is the only way forward”.

He emphasized that both the government and the MILF “must provide them hope that there is a chance” that a Bangsamoro law would be passed “whoever the next President would be.”

Iqbal said the BBL must remain compliant with the peace agreement, called the CAB, signed between the government and the MILF in 2014.

“This must be in the form of firm and unequivocal commitment from government that it shall continue to comply with its obligations under the CAB, particularly on the passage of the CAB-compliant BBL, which is a unilateral obligation of government,” Iqbal said.

“On the part of the MILF, we assure everyone including the international community that we will adhere to the CAB and comply with its obligations. And finally, in order to preserve the gains of the peace process, government and MILF should journey together in faithfully implementing the CAB, guided by the principle of ‘as is, where is’,” Iqbal added.

The proposed Bangsamoro Law seeks to form a substate called Bangsamoro that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/milf-to-assert-deals-signed-with-aquino