MNLF brands recent meet of MNLF, MILF, OIC on BBL ‘desperate move’

From the Daily Tribune (Nov 21): MNLF brands recent meet of MNLF, MILF, OIC on BBL ‘desperate move’

The Moro National Liberation Front yesterday branded as a “desperate move” the recent meeting between supposed leaders of the MNLF, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the powerful Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to legitimize the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Lawyer Emmanuel Fontanilla, spokesman of the MNLF faction of Chairman Nur Misuari, expressed belief that the meeting held last Nov. 13 somewhere in Makati City is part of the government’s ploy to legalize the BBL being pushed by the government of the Philippines and the MILF.

In an MILF editorial over its Web site, it claimed that the MNLF delegation has the blessing of Misuari.

But Fontanilla was quick to dismiss such claim, citing statement from MNLF political director Gapul Hadjirul.

“The political director, Gapul Hadjirul, of MNLF said that the meeting has no blessing from Maas (Misuari’s nickname),” Fontanilla told The Daily Tribune.

“The meeting is a scheme to legitimize the BBL which is unacceptable to the people of Mindanao. It’s a political ploy, a desperate move on the part of the government,” he added.

Fontanilla maintained that the BBL will suffer the fate of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) which was junked as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2008.

“Their BBL and the MoA-AD are the same, that’s the problem,” said Fontanilla.

“Their concept of the Constitution is asymmetrical which is not found in law books,” he added.

During the meeting, the MNLF was represented by lawyer Bong Parcasio, the spokesman of the MNLF delegation, Moslemin Sema, Hatimil Hassan, Habib Mujahab Hashim, Commander Narra, Abebakrin Lukman, and Abdul Sahrin.

“These personalities are already controlled by the government. They (government) created MNLF faction that can be controlled. The usual divide and conquer tactic,” said Fontanilla.

The MILF was represented by Mohagher Iqbal, Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, Abdulla Camlian, all three are members of the MILF peace panel; Sheikh Ibrahim Ali, Hussein Munoz, Jun Mantawil, all members of the MILF central leadership; lawyer Nazir Ynawat, Muhajirin Ali, and Masbod Gaima, the last two names composing, alongside Mantawil, the MILF secretariat to the Bangsamoro Coordination Forum (BCF).

“MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari and MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim were not physically present during the meeting, but both have given their blessings to their respective delegations,” the MILF said in its editorial.

The meeting, the MILF said, demonstrated the maturity of the leaders of both fronts to rise above personal and pure organizational considerations in favor of the common interests.

“Further, it also showcased the OIC’s continuing recognition and commitment to help the Bangsamoro people in the pursuit of their inherent and collective to self-determination,” the MILF said.

The meeting resulted in the signing of a final communique of the BCF which calls for the creation of the Executive Bureau of the BCF, which will hold office in Cotabato City. It is composed of three representatives each from the MNLF and MILF and one representative from the OIC. The bureau has the power to decide on matters when the BCF is not in session, but is required to report all its actions to the BCF in plenary.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/mnlf-brands-recent-meet-of-mnlf-milf-oic-on-bbl-desperate-move