Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Jaafar: Bangsamoro Transition Commission preparing for plebiscite

From ABS-CBN (Aug 8): Jaafar: Bangsamoro Transition Commission preparing for plebiscite



The chairman of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission on Monday said more work to be done, now that the Bangsamoro Organic Law has been signed.
Speaking on ANC, Ghazali Jaafar said they are ready to face challenges in the implementation of the law.

Among these is the preparation for the plebiscite to be held in the Bangsamoro area.

"Well, thinking of positive challenges. After the presentation of the organic, the Bangsamoro Organic Law by our president to us, I think we have to prepare ourselves for another tedious, long work ahead in preparation for the incoming plebiscite to be held in the area where the Bangsamoro Organic Law will be held, in the five provinces of the Autonomous Region (in Muslim Mindanao) now and in the cities of Basilan and Cotabato, and to include six towns in Lanao del Norte and 39 barangays in North Cotabato," he explained.


Jaafar also said they are ready to face those who are against the new law.

"Negative challenges, we are expecting also because I think there are few individuals and personalities who have probably different opinion regarding the autonomous Bangsamoro Basic Law and I think they are expected to do something, you know, to make public their displeasure," he said.

"We've been hearing also information that there are those who are contemplating to fight, petition in the Supreme Court, questioning the Bangsamoro Organic Law," Jaafar added.

Jaafar said the commission is ready to implement the BOL.

"As far as we are concerned, we are ready. Now that the Bangsamoro Organic Law is signed into law and approved by your president and submitted to us and officially inform the President that as far as the leadership of the MILF is concerned, we are accepting the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and therefore, after this, we will be going around to conduct advocacy to our people and to the leaders in the area," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law on June 27 and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Moro rebel group, will have 90 days to convince stakeholders to vote for the ratification of the law.

Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, forged the peace agreement with the MILF in 2014 but failed to get Congress to pass the law when he stepped down in 2016.

The 16th Congress halted debates due to public outrage over the deaths of 44 police commandos in a botched anti-terrorism raid in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January 2015, wherein some MILF members were accused of involvement.

Some provisions in the Bangsamoro law's earlier versions also faced questions on constitutionality.

Duterte, the first Mindanaoan president, breathed new life into the Bangsamoro law, as he expanded the Bangsamoro Transition Commission which then went back to the drawing board and produced the proposed measure that the 17th Congress tackled and passed.

 http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/08/18/jaafar-bangsamoro-transition-commission-preparing-for-plebiscite

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