MILF: MILF Panel updates Int’l Decommissioning Body on Bangsamoro peace process status

From the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Oct 11): MILF Panel updates Int’l Decommissioning Body on Bangsamoro peace process status



The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Implementing Panel on Sunday gave the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) updates and situational briefing on the Bangsamoro peace process.

Together with his panel members, MILF Implementing Panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal conveyed to the IDB members the upcoming new Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), whose membership will be increased from 15 to 21 to include the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Sultanates, Indigenous Peoples and Settlers.

For the BTC to be re-established entails an Executive Order from the President and appointment of the members of the Commission.

As stipulated in the 2015 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the peace accord signed by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF, the BTC is mandated to draft the Bangsamoro Basic law (BBL) and submit to the Philippine Congress.

It is the sole responsibility of the two Chambers of Philippine legislature to pass the BBL, a legislative measure that will establish an autonomous Bangsamoro political entity with more political and fiscal powers.

The Aquino Administration created the BTC which then drafted the BBL and submitted to the 16th Congress. However the lawmakers failed to pass the measure before their sessions adjourned.

Despite the government’s failure to comply with the signed peace agreement that brought frustration to the MILF leadership and the Bangsamoro people, the Front remained steadfast to continue in finding diplomatic solution in resolving the Bangsamoro question.

On August 13-14, 2016, under the new administration, there was an official launching of the GPH, MILF Implementing Peace Panels at the Palace of Golden Horses in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In the Peace Road Map, the Duterte Administration plans to expand the BTC composition to ensure inclusivity of the key actors in finding the lasting solution to the Bangsamoro issue.

With the participation of the MNLF in the expanded BTC, the draft BBL shall be enhanced by the 1996 GPH-MNLF Final Peace Agreement.

Iqbal also gave update on the status of the implementation of the Normalization process, the Mindanao Trust Fund and other undertakings of the two implementing panels.

He further related other important pertinent information and thanked the IDB for its continuous engagement in the peace process particularly in the area of Normalization.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/news/22-davao-region/912-milf-panel-updates-int-l-decommissioning-body-on-bangsamoro-peace-process-status