MILF: Moro NGO lauds the appointment of Bangsamoro Transition Commission members

Posted to the MILF Website (Mar 4): Moro NGO lauds the appointment of Bangsamoro Transition Commission members

The Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy, a Non-Government Organization (NGO) of Moro peace advocates, lauded the appointment of the 15 members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (TransCom) who are tasked to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law as envisioned in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) in a press statement released on February 28, 2013.
The basic law will, once established, will realize the aspiration of the Bangsamoro people for self-governance through the Bangsamoro New Political Entity that will replace the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The draft basic law will be certified urgent by the President and submitted to Congress for passage. Thereafter, it will undergo plebiscite in the proposed Bangsamoro core territory comprised of the areas covered by the ARMM.

On February 25, 2013, President Aquino appointed the 15 members of TransCom on which seven were nominated by the Government namely Akmad A. Sakkam, Johaira C. Wahab, Talib A. Benito, Asani S. Tammang, Pedrito A. Eisma, Froilyn T. Mendoza and Fatmawati T. Salapuddin.

Eight members nominated by the MILF were Maulana Alonto, Abdullah Camlian, Ibrahim D. Ali, Raissa H. Jajurie, Melanio U. Ulama, Hussein P. Munoz, Said M. Shiek and the TransCom Chairman Mohager Iqbal, which also heads the MILF Peace Panel.

The PCID congratulated the Government and the MILF for the inclusion of women members of the TransCom thru Wahab, Mendoza, Salapuddin and Jajurie.

The group, however, noted the lack of representation of Tawi-Tawi Province considering it will be part of the new political entity. The PCID just hoped that “genuine consultations on all stakeholders will be undertaken by the Commission in the disposition of its tasks to reach at the most inclusive formula.”

The press release further stated that “the PCID hopes that attention will be given to issues concerning the expansion and independence of the Shari’ah legal system.”

PCID further urges that attention be given to fiscal autonomy and the need to develop policies to establish the foundation for Shari’ah-compliant business and investments to flourish within the Bangsamoro.

Chaired by Amina Rasul-Bernardo, the PCID has been successful in its advocacy to empower the Ulama (male Muslim scholars) and Aleemat (female Muslim scholars) in the country in the past couple of years.

She believes that the Muslim religious leaders, which enjoy highest respect of the Muslim communities could be of great help in the Bangsamoro development considering they are “catalysts of change.”
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