Bangsamoro peace process, violent extremism tackled

From the Sun Star-Davao (Aug 3): Bangsamoro peace process, violent extremism tackled

THE Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) in partnership with The Mindanao Institute on Journalism (MIJ) and MindaNews conducted a media forum on the Bangsamoro Organic Peace Process and Violent Extremism at the Linmarr apartell, Davao City yesterday.

MIJ training officer Amalia Cabusao said in her message that the forum aims to equip journalists with correct information on the phenomenon of violent extremism and about the Bangsamoro peace process.

The media forum was a whole day event with four sessions. The first session tackled the Peace and Development Agenda of the Duterte Administration and update regarding the peace process. Next session was about the Understanding the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Nabil Tan, chair of the Government Peace Implementing Panel for the Bangsamoro Peace Accords undersecretary, said that they have already peace agreements with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Tan said the purpose of BOL under the law, “is to establish a political entity, provide for its basic structure of government in recognition of the justness and legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people and their aspiration to chart their political future through a democratic process that will secure their identity and posterity and allow for meaningful self-governance.”

Commissioner of the Bangsamoro Tranisition Commission Jose Lorena, Jr., meanwhile, explained that the BOL creates a Better – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (B-Armm) for it calls a comprehensive political solution for the entire Armm.

Lorena also underscored that the Muslim community would now have an equal footing and benefits now that the BOL was signed into by President Rodrigo Duterte.

There were sessions regarding the history of Marawi City and violent extremism was cited as the cause of the siege. 

MIJ chair H. Marcos Mordeno said journalists tend to only look at the basic news and not look deeper on the war. He added that even media was not able to answer the question of The Islamic State (Isis) existence in the Philippines.

Mansoor Limba of the Alqalam Institute and Ateneo De Davao University, for his part, discussed the Radicalization and Violent Extremism in the Mindanao Context.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1756247/Davao/Local-News/Bangsamoro-peace-process-violent-extremism-tackled