Gov’t training MILF to govern eyed Bangsamoro region — Noy

From the Daily Tribune (Jan 9): Gov’t training MILF to govern eyed Bangsamoro region — Noy

While the contentious issues in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) have yet to be settled, the Aquino administration is grooming members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to lead the proposed Bangsamoro Political Entity that would stem from the passage of the Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR).

Optimistic that the BBL will be passed under his term, President Aquino, in a media interview in Davao City, yesterday said other than the Sajahatra program, that seeks to provide skills for former combatants from the MILF, the government is also training some of them to take on the leadership of the eyed region that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

He stressed the passage of the BBL will ensure the progress and development in Mindanao even after his term ends in June.

“Each time I speak about Mindanao, I mention how the goal for our administration is to transform it, from the Land of Promise, to the Land of Promises Fulfilled,” Aquino said.

“Over the past few years, we have seen the beginnings of this transformation,” he added.

According to the President, even before both sides drafted the BBL, “we have already started to show the benefits. The Sajahatra program provides skills to former combatants so they will become fruitful economic players.”

“There are also governance courses for a few members of the MILF so by the time they’re given mandate, they are ready. Now (responding) to non-passage (of the BLBAR) is as if you’re closing the possibility that it will be passed,” Aquino said, adding he will be meeting next week with members of the House of Representatives “precisely to push for the passage of the BBL.”

“Congressman Rufus Rodriguez tells me that they are almost complete with the ‘turno en contra’ stage and after that, they will be voting on it already. So we still have a good chance of passing the BBL,” Aquino said.

Congress is scheduled to resume its session on January 19 until February 5 and will go on a long break during the campaign period for the 2016 national and local elections.

Last month, Aquino met with members of the House of Representatives — even those in the opposition, in Malacañang and urged them to pass the proposed BBL.

But failure to form a quorum at the House and priorities in the Senate diverted the focus on the BLBAR.

Experts also have noted that railroading the BLBAR may hinder inclusion of safeguards in the bill that would protect the interest of the nation.

They noted that the BLBAR requires more time for study, specifically provisions that may lead to secession by a substate-like Bangsamoro Political Entity.

Both houses have to vote on it before remittance to Aquino and approval.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/gov-t-training-milf-to-govern-eyed-bangsamoro-region-noy