PMA cadets briefed on BBL, Muslims' way of life

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 9): PMA cadets briefed on BBL, Muslims' way of life

A forum on the Bangsamoro peace process was conducted on Wednesday, March 9 at the Lopez Hall of the Philippine Military Academy, Fort del Pilar, with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Mohagher Iqbal as one of the resource speakers.

Spearheaded by the MindaNews and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Mindanao Cluster in cooperation with PIA Cordillera Regional Office, the forum was aimed at enlightening the PMA cadets on the peace process and issues in Mindanao and the Cordillera Region’s clamor for autonomy.

Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Chairperson of the Government of the Philippines (GPh) Peace Panel explained that since the 16th Congress was not able to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB) remains to be a binding agreement between the GPh and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to end hostilities and promote peace and stability in the Bangsamoro areas.

Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel and Bangsamoro Transition Committee, said that Mindanao is ready to have peace.

He explained that the problem in Mindanao is historical, dating back to the Spanish regime and passed on to the Americans and Japanese until the present.

In a press conference that followed the forum, Efren Elbanbuena, PIA-Region XI Director explained that the forum was conducted at the PMA because the cadets should be given a working knowledge on the BBL especially the members of the PMA 2016 “Gabay Laya” graduating class considering that some of them will be assigned in Mindanao.

Elbanbuena said the forum will give the cadets a thorough understanding of the BBL and the Muslims' way of life.

PMA Superintendent MGeneral Donato B. San Juan III delivered a warm welcome to the panelists and participants including Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan; Helen Tibaldo, Director PIA-CAR; Carolyn Arguillas, Editor-in-Chief of MindNews and Marcos Mordeno of MindaNews.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=864795