Roadmap to expand BTC membership

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Aug 15): Roadmap to expand BTC membership



The MILF and GPH agreed on Sunday (August 14) on a new peace and development roadmap that includes the expansion of the membership of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).

Meeting for the first time under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Peace Implementing Panels of MILF and GPH said in a joint statement that a reconstituted BTC would be composed of 21 members – 11 to be nominated by the MILF and 10 by the GPH.

The current BTC is made up of 15 commissioners with eight including the chairman nominated by the MILF and the rest from the GPH.

A “revised executive order” is expected to be issued soon by Pres. Duterte.
The change in the number of BTC commissioners is seen as a move to “ensure inclusivity” of other stakeholders in the implementation of the signed agreements between the GPH and MILF.

The two Parties also committed to “sustain the trust and confidence” by continuing to implement deliverables under the normalization track of the signed agreements.

The Parties also agreed to meet regularly in the Philippines to ensure effective and efficient implementation.

During the opening rites on Aug. 13, dubbed as the Launching of the Implementation Phase of the Mindanao Peace Agreement between the PH and MILF, Chairman Alhaj Murad Ebrahim introduced the members of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel which retained Mohagher Iqbal as its Chairman with Abhoud Syed Lingga, Abdulla Camlian, Said Sheik and Melanio Ulama as members.

On the GPH side, Ms. Irene “Inday” M. Santiago chairs its Peace Implementing Panel. She is joined by Undersecretary Diosita “Jojo” Andot, Undersecretary Nabil Tan, Assistant Secretary Dickson Hermoso, and Assistant Secretary Rolando Asuncion.

Notably present during the formal launch were Malaysian Deputy Minister of Defense Dato Sri Mohd Johari bin Baharum, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, Foreign Affairs Sec. Perfecto Yasay, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, DILG Sec. Ismael Sueno, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya and ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman.

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