Gov’t, MILF to ink comprehensive peace deal by March

From the Manila Bulletin (Feb 11): Gov’t, MILF to ink comprehensive peace deal by March

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are likely to sign by March a comprehensive peace pact, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace (OPAPP) said.

The pact would be called a Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which, according to OPAPP Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, would include the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and its four annexes on transitional arrangement and modalities, revenue generation and wealth sharing, power sharing, and normalization.

It also includes addendum on Bangsamoro waters.

The peace pact, she stressed, would become the basis in drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission is tasked to draft such proposal.
Deles, speaking on Monday during the 3rd Sagayan Festival in Buluan town in Maguindanao, called on the residents to vote yes during the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Such law, once ratified, would be the basis in establishing a new Bangsamoro political entity in Mindanao.

Deles said the joint leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives has agreed to make the proposed Bangsamoro law a top legislative agenda.

They target its approval on or before December 31, she added.

Based on the peace deal and the proposed law, the new Bangsamoro political entity covers the present geographical area of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

It also covers six towns of Lanao del Norte, which include the Municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal.
At least 39 villages in the towns of Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigcawayan, Pikit, and Midsayap in North Cotabato that voted for inclusion in the ARMM during the 2001 plebiscite would also be included in the new political entity.

Also, the territory covers the cities of Cotabato and Isabela and all other contiguous areas where there is a resolution of the local government unit or a petition of at least ten percent (10%) of the qualified voters in the area asking for their inclusion at least two months prior to the conduct of the ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“We’ve already come this far, so let us all support this peace process. The negotiations were difficult in adherence to the order of the President to learn from the lessons of the past and that everything must be within the ambit of the Constitution,” Deles said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/govt-milf-to-ink-comprehensive-peace-deal-by-march/