Posted to the Mindanao Examiner (Feb 23, 2021): Peace agreement, BARMM hostage?
IPINAGPIPILITAN NI former rebel chieftain at ngayon Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim na tanging sila lamang ang dapat na mamuno sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) dahil bahagi umano ito ng kasunduan ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sa pamahalaan at kung hindi ay posibleng mabalewala ang peace agreement.‘Kami lang dapat mamuno sa BARMM: Murad’
(Dating) Pangulong Benigno Aquino at MILF Chieftain Murad Ebrahim.
Matatandaang lumagda ng peace agreement noong 2014 si Pangulong Benigno Aquino sa rebeldeng grupo na MILF na pinamumunuan ni Ebrahim.
Sa isang virtual hearing ng House of Representatives kamakailan lamang, tinanong ni Kusog Tausug Rep. Shernee Tambut si Ebrahim kung ano ang gagawin nito sakaling matalo sa 2022 BARMM election ang MILF-led members ng Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). “For example, there is an election and then the MILF members who are members of the BTA now do not win, what will happen to the agreement between the MILF and the government? Will the MILF turn away from that agreement, for example you do not win in the election, if you are no longer for example, member of the parliament, will you turn away from that agreement with the government?” tanong pa ni Tambut.
Matatandaang lumagda ng peace agreement noong 2014 si Pangulong Benigno Aquino sa rebeldeng grupo na MILF na pinamumunuan ni Ebrahim.
Sa isang virtual hearing ng House of Representatives kamakailan lamang, tinanong ni Kusog Tausug Rep. Shernee Tambut si Ebrahim kung ano ang gagawin nito sakaling matalo sa 2022 BARMM election ang MILF-led members ng Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). “For example, there is an election and then the MILF members who are members of the BTA now do not win, what will happen to the agreement between the MILF and the government? Will the MILF turn away from that agreement, for example you do not win in the election, if you are no longer for example, member of the parliament, will you turn away from that agreement with the government?” tanong pa ni Tambut.
Kusug Tausug Rep. Shernee Tambut
Iginiit ni Ebrahim na may kasunduan ang MILF at pamahalaan at kung sila ay matatalo ay tahasan nitong sinabi na mababalewala na ang (peace) agreement. Hindi naman sinabi ni Ebrahim kung babalik ang MILF sa pakikibaka o hindi. “We do not want to speculate, but then you see the implementation of the agreement is a partnership between the MILF and the government and the mechanism is the BTA, and now if the MILF is no longer the BTA then there is no partnership between the national government and the MILF in implementing, so I do not see how,” sagot pa ni Ebrahim kay Tambut.
MILF Lang
Tila wala rin tiwala si Ebrahim sa kung sino man ang susunod na mamumuno sa BARMM at miyembro ng BTA, at muling ipinagpilitan ang agreement nito sa pamahalaan. Ito ay matapos na tanungin muli ni Tambut ang dating lider ng rebeldeng grupo. Ito ang tanong ng mambabatas: “My next question is assuming that there will be an election for the BTA-BARMM on 2022, and then assuming you will not win, and there will be new set of officers are you saying that the newly elected officers will not be able to perform the task you mentioned, that only you can do the things you mentioned meaning people like (House) Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman cannot performed the task you have mentioned or seasoned legislators, politicians like Congressman Khalid Dimaporo na napakagaling (at) hindi nila kaya gawin yun mga na-mention mo at ikaw, kayo lang mga BTA ngayon ang may kayang gumawa noon?”
Mabilis ang tugon ni Ebrahim. “I recognize the capability of our leaders, other leaders but then remember that this is an agreement between two parties and implementation must be a partnership between the two parties, so that is our reason.”
Naninigurado rin si Ebrahim na sila pa rin ang mamumuno sa BARMM at BTA kung sakali kung kaya’t dapat umanong habaan pa ng 3 taon ang kanilang termino. Tila nalimutan ni Ebrahim ang mga probisyon ng Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) sa kanyang pagsusumilit na dapat walang election sa 2022 at habaan na lamang ang kanilang mga termino.
Sa ilalim ng BOL ng MILF ay nakasaad doon na dapat magkaroon ng halalan sa BTA sa susunod na taon upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga Bangsamoro na makapili ng kanilang mga opisyal sa BTA at sa interim Bangsamoro government.
“The challenge now will be the implementation process meaning the agreement will not be fully implemented. So now on our side, we are not postponing this just to be able to hold power, but we are postponing this in order to complete the implementation of the agreement, once it is complemented we are ready to have the election,” dagdag pa ni Ebrahim.
Agreement
Sa muling pagtatanong ni Tambut kay Ebrahim: “My question is what are the matters that you need to accomplish that necessitates the cancellation of the first election in 2022 and why would they be a hindrance to the conduct of an election in 2022?”
Sa kanyang sagot, sinabi ni Ebrahim: “Actually, the transition of the BTA is the mechanism that will be an agreed mechanism between the MILF and the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) in implementing the comprehensive (peace) agreement through the BOL, so the reason why we are asking for an extension, for the postponement or moving in of the 2022 election to 2025 is based on our analysis, considering all the experience we have also, and the challenges we had, so we see that 2022 will not complete the implementation of both the political aspects and normalization aspects of the agreement.”
“So basically, if it will not be implemented then the (peace) agreement is not in place, so we are not sure whether the next government, because the BTA as a mechanism to implement, is already out of the picture so we cannot be assured that the other provisions which needed to be implemented both in the political aspect and the normalization aspect will be implemented,” ayon pa kay Ebrahim na tila hirap na hirap sa kanyang paliwanag.
MILF-BIFF
Lumutang rin sa congressional hearing ang isyu ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) at ng mga rebeldeng MILF na siyang nasa likod ng masaker sa 44 na miyembro ng Special Action Force ng Philippine National Police na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin hustisyang nakakamit ang mga naulilang pamilya nito. Naganap ito isang taon matapos na magkaroon ng peace agreement ang MILF sa pamahalaan.
Matatandaang pinasok ng mga SAF ang kuta ng Malaysian terrorist na si Zulkifli bin Hir sa loob mismo ng teritoryo ng MILF sa Barangay Tukanalipao sa bayan ng Mamasapano sa Maguindanao province noong Enero 25, 2015. Napatay ng mga ito ang dayuhang bomber, ngunit sa paglabas ng SAF commandos sa nasabing lugar ay pinutakte sila ng mga rebeldeng MILF at BIFF hanggang sa napaslang ang 44 na mga miyembro ng pulisya.
Pinagnakawan pa ng mga rebelde ang mga bangkay ng SAF 44 – mula wallet at armas ultimo uniporme at combat shoes. Tumanggi rin si Ebrahim na isuko ang mga sangkot na rebelde sa masaker at tanging 16 na armas lamang ang ibinalik ng MILF sa pamahalaan at karamihan sa mga ito ay tinanggalan pa ng mga piyesa.
Dahil sa masaker, naudlot ang Bangasamoro Basic Law (BBL) at sa panahon na lamang ni Pangulong Duterte ito na-aprubahan. Ito rin ang inilitaw ni Tambut sa congressional hearing dahil sa pamimilit ni Ebrahim na gamitin ang peace agreement at ang Covid-19 pandemic upang hindi matuloy ang election sa BTA-BARMM.
“With regard to the issue on peace, I am sorry but there is already this agreement between the MILF and the government. I am sorry to say, but still there is the BIFF and then still there is this issue about the SAF 44 if you are going to talk about peace. Now my second point is regarding the unfinished tasks, well it would be arrogant to say that only the MILF can function, can perform this unfinished tasks besides you were given an ample amount of time to do everything you needed to do, in fact it is stated in the (Bangsamoro) Organic Law that by 2022 we will have BARMM election and yet you did not perform so basically that is your fault.”
Iginiit ni Ebrahim na may kasunduan ang MILF at pamahalaan at kung sila ay matatalo ay tahasan nitong sinabi na mababalewala na ang (peace) agreement. Hindi naman sinabi ni Ebrahim kung babalik ang MILF sa pakikibaka o hindi. “We do not want to speculate, but then you see the implementation of the agreement is a partnership between the MILF and the government and the mechanism is the BTA, and now if the MILF is no longer the BTA then there is no partnership between the national government and the MILF in implementing, so I do not see how,” sagot pa ni Ebrahim kay Tambut.
MILF Lang
Tila wala rin tiwala si Ebrahim sa kung sino man ang susunod na mamumuno sa BARMM at miyembro ng BTA, at muling ipinagpilitan ang agreement nito sa pamahalaan. Ito ay matapos na tanungin muli ni Tambut ang dating lider ng rebeldeng grupo. Ito ang tanong ng mambabatas: “My next question is assuming that there will be an election for the BTA-BARMM on 2022, and then assuming you will not win, and there will be new set of officers are you saying that the newly elected officers will not be able to perform the task you mentioned, that only you can do the things you mentioned meaning people like (House) Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman cannot performed the task you have mentioned or seasoned legislators, politicians like Congressman Khalid Dimaporo na napakagaling (at) hindi nila kaya gawin yun mga na-mention mo at ikaw, kayo lang mga BTA ngayon ang may kayang gumawa noon?”
Mabilis ang tugon ni Ebrahim. “I recognize the capability of our leaders, other leaders but then remember that this is an agreement between two parties and implementation must be a partnership between the two parties, so that is our reason.”
Naninigurado rin si Ebrahim na sila pa rin ang mamumuno sa BARMM at BTA kung sakali kung kaya’t dapat umanong habaan pa ng 3 taon ang kanilang termino. Tila nalimutan ni Ebrahim ang mga probisyon ng Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) sa kanyang pagsusumilit na dapat walang election sa 2022 at habaan na lamang ang kanilang mga termino.
Sa ilalim ng BOL ng MILF ay nakasaad doon na dapat magkaroon ng halalan sa BTA sa susunod na taon upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga Bangsamoro na makapili ng kanilang mga opisyal sa BTA at sa interim Bangsamoro government.
“The challenge now will be the implementation process meaning the agreement will not be fully implemented. So now on our side, we are not postponing this just to be able to hold power, but we are postponing this in order to complete the implementation of the agreement, once it is complemented we are ready to have the election,” dagdag pa ni Ebrahim.
Agreement
Sa muling pagtatanong ni Tambut kay Ebrahim: “My question is what are the matters that you need to accomplish that necessitates the cancellation of the first election in 2022 and why would they be a hindrance to the conduct of an election in 2022?”
Sa kanyang sagot, sinabi ni Ebrahim: “Actually, the transition of the BTA is the mechanism that will be an agreed mechanism between the MILF and the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) in implementing the comprehensive (peace) agreement through the BOL, so the reason why we are asking for an extension, for the postponement or moving in of the 2022 election to 2025 is based on our analysis, considering all the experience we have also, and the challenges we had, so we see that 2022 will not complete the implementation of both the political aspects and normalization aspects of the agreement.”
“So basically, if it will not be implemented then the (peace) agreement is not in place, so we are not sure whether the next government, because the BTA as a mechanism to implement, is already out of the picture so we cannot be assured that the other provisions which needed to be implemented both in the political aspect and the normalization aspect will be implemented,” ayon pa kay Ebrahim na tila hirap na hirap sa kanyang paliwanag.
MILF-BIFF
Lumutang rin sa congressional hearing ang isyu ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) at ng mga rebeldeng MILF na siyang nasa likod ng masaker sa 44 na miyembro ng Special Action Force ng Philippine National Police na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin hustisyang nakakamit ang mga naulilang pamilya nito. Naganap ito isang taon matapos na magkaroon ng peace agreement ang MILF sa pamahalaan.
Matatandaang pinasok ng mga SAF ang kuta ng Malaysian terrorist na si Zulkifli bin Hir sa loob mismo ng teritoryo ng MILF sa Barangay Tukanalipao sa bayan ng Mamasapano sa Maguindanao province noong Enero 25, 2015. Napatay ng mga ito ang dayuhang bomber, ngunit sa paglabas ng SAF commandos sa nasabing lugar ay pinutakte sila ng mga rebeldeng MILF at BIFF hanggang sa napaslang ang 44 na mga miyembro ng pulisya.
Pinagnakawan pa ng mga rebelde ang mga bangkay ng SAF 44 – mula wallet at armas ultimo uniporme at combat shoes. Tumanggi rin si Ebrahim na isuko ang mga sangkot na rebelde sa masaker at tanging 16 na armas lamang ang ibinalik ng MILF sa pamahalaan at karamihan sa mga ito ay tinanggalan pa ng mga piyesa.
Dahil sa masaker, naudlot ang Bangasamoro Basic Law (BBL) at sa panahon na lamang ni Pangulong Duterte ito na-aprubahan. Ito rin ang inilitaw ni Tambut sa congressional hearing dahil sa pamimilit ni Ebrahim na gamitin ang peace agreement at ang Covid-19 pandemic upang hindi matuloy ang election sa BTA-BARMM.
“With regard to the issue on peace, I am sorry but there is already this agreement between the MILF and the government. I am sorry to say, but still there is the BIFF and then still there is this issue about the SAF 44 if you are going to talk about peace. Now my second point is regarding the unfinished tasks, well it would be arrogant to say that only the MILF can function, can perform this unfinished tasks besides you were given an ample amount of time to do everything you needed to do, in fact it is stated in the (Bangsamoro) Organic Law that by 2022 we will have BARMM election and yet you did not perform so basically that is your fault.”
“Now, do not use the pandemic as an excuse, because the members of the House of Representatives were able to perform (their mandate) despite the pandemic. President Duterte himself was able to perform his functions despite the pandemic so stop using the pandemic as an excuse,” wika pa ni Tambut.
Sa kanyang pagtatapos, sinabi ng maimpluwensyang mambabatas na maghahain ito ng batas na magpapatawag ng referendum sa BARMM upang itanong sa mga Muslim kung payag ba silang i-urong ang election sa 2022 at habaan na lamang ang termino ni Ebrahim at mga opisyal nito at gayun rin sa BTA.
“Now, if we will allow the extension of the BTA-BARMM because BTA was not able to finish their tasks, well who knows they might just delay and delay and use their lack of performance as an excuse so as not to hold an election in the point that I intend to introduce an amendment to all the house bills filed that there shall be a referendum to submit this amendment to a referendum so we can hear the voice of the people, anyway we submitted the Organic Law to a plebiscite and now that we are making an important amendment it is important that we consult again the people whether they want to extend the election or not through a referendum,” ani Tambut.
Pangamba
Naunang inamin ni Ebrahim sa interview sa kanya ng journalist na si Christian Esguerra sa “Press One” noong Nobyembre na ito ay natatakot na matalo sa 2022 BTA-BARMM election kung kaya’t dapat ay habaan na lamang ang kanilang termino.
“We are very concerned kasi ang tingin namin, nag-i-start pa lang kami. And then parang wala pa kaming tangible na accomplishment talaga na maipakita namin. So ‘yun ang challenge sa amin, na kung mag-eleksyon, baka sabihin ng mga tao, wala naman ginawa ito,” ani Ebrahim.
Sinabi ni Ebrahim na hindi sapat ang panahon nila sa pagpapatakbo sa BARMM at wala pa silang maipakitang sa publiko na konkretong nagawa. “Kasi nga nakita natin na kailangan talaga na meron. Halimbawa, mabuti kung talagang siguradong manalo kami (sa 2022 election). Pero walang assurance ‘yun kasi anybody’s game na pagka-eleksyon na. Pag hindi, ano mangyayari dun sa other aspects ng negotiation?” paliwanag pa ni Ebrahim kay Esguerra.
Ang BARMM ay may allocation na block grant sa halagang P65.3 bilyon mula sa national government at bukod pa ito sa P10 bilyon Special Development Fund. (Mindanao Examiner)
http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2021/02/peace-agreement-barmm-hostage.html
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.