The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is confident that the defense accord signed between the US and the Philippine governments that would allow a larger US military presence in the country won’t directly affect them.
“This agreement is between the government and USA. Bangsamoro is not party to that agreement. So, we are not directly affected,” Chairman Al haj Murad Ebrahim of the Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group said.
“As long as we feel that this agreement will not jeopardize the implementation of our agreement, we have no intention intervening this agreement,” he added.
The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) would give American forces temporary access to selected military camps and allow them to preposition fighter jets and ships. It was signed during the visit of President Barack Obama in the country last month.
Under EDCA, the US will also be allowed to build structures, store as well as preposition weapons, defense supplies and materiel, station troops, civilian personnel and defense contractors, transit and station vehicles, vessels, and aircraft for a period of 10 years.
But the defense accord was contested before the Supreme Courty through two petitions filed by former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada, and by another group composed of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, party-list lawmakers from the “Makabayan” bloc, and former solons, among others.
The petitioners believed the deal’s terms and provisions are “lopsided” in favor of the Americans. They said the EDCA goes against the Philippines’ national interest and, is disadvantageous to Filipinos, and is mainly motivated by the US strategic re-balancing towards Asia and is therefore in the service of US security and economic interests.
The petitioners said the EDCA would grant the US “carta blanche power to establish and operate de facto military bases anywhere on Philippine soil, minus the cost of paying for one.”
They also said the agreement would be a mere implementation of policies enshrined in the PHL-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) — a treaty whose constitutionality is being challenged for the first time before the high court with Saguisag and Tañada’s petition.
President Benigno Aquino III has repeatedly said that the EDCA can stand legal scrutiny even if it is challenged before the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the MILF chairman urged the Philippine government to pursue peace process with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
At the same time, Murad called on the communist insurgent group to come to negotiations.
“Ultimately, the problems are solved through dialogue....the government and MILF have been very open inviting other groups to join,” the MILF chairman said. “Fighting groups will have no choice because people will not support them and they will be isolated.”
Reacting to claims by some quarters that the MILF is being rewarded with positions of authority by signing up for peace, Murad said: It is very clear in the agreement that MILF will only be during the transition period.”
Murad explained the period will be at least one year and this is only when MILF lead the government. “After that, there will be democratic process. It will be open for everybody. Next government may no longer lead by MILF, it will be a choice of people.
“We establish parliamentary system. Whoever party will win majority seat in the parliament and form the government. MILF will form its political party. But there is no assurance that we will win the majority. So, other groups can form their party and contest in the election. There is no monopoly. We are upto a transition period,” he said.
The Bangsamoro Region that will supplant the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is expected to be in place before the 2016 presidential elections.
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