EU and UN hail Rody's Bangsamoro Law

86SHARES930

By Helen Flores, Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) 

MANILA, Philippines — The European Union and the United Nations hailed President Duterte’s enactment of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which, according to the EU, represents an opportunity for the Filipino people to embrace peace and stability after decades of conflict, and which the UN called a “landmark achievement on the road to lasting peace in southern Philippines.”

European Commission for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations spokesperson Maja Kocijancic on Friday said the signing of the BOL comes after 21 years of formal talks after the first ceasefire agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“It underlines both parties’ commitment to peace and their ability to tackle a variety of complex matters through a comprehensive and inclusive law,” she said.

The regional group also hailed those involved in the negotiation and adoption of the law who have undertaken important work to bring stability and well-being to the people of Mindanao.

Kocijancic said the EU remains a staunch supporter of the Mindanao Peace Process and is prepared to support the implementation of the BOL in the future, in view of long-lasting peace, development and prosperity in Mindanao and for the Filipinos.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday congratulated negotiators of the Philippine government and the MILF, the Bicameral Conference Committee, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission and civil society groups for their efforts.

“The United Nations will continue to support the Philippines in the implementation of the law and to help build the capacity of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority as an effective conduit for peace, democratic governance and human rights,” the UN said in a statement.

‘Important step’

Japan also welcomed the enactment of the BOL for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said “the enactment of this law is an important step toward the establishment of the new (Bangsamoro) autonomous government in Mindanao.”

“Japan sincerely commends the efforts of the government of the Philippines, the MILF and all others concerned,” Kono said.

Japan strongly hopes that the transition process toward the inauguration of the Bangsamoro will be steadily implemented, including ratification of the organic law and establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

Japan has been supporting the peace process for many years under the conviction that peace in Mindanao will contribute to regional peace and stability, as declared in the Japan-Philippines Joint Statement on Bilateral Cooperation for the Next Five Years announced in October 2017.

Kono said Japan would enhance its support for the development of Mindanao in a wide range of fields, in accordance with progress in the peace process.

The House of Representatives approved the proposed BOL, which the administration and its authors said is the key to promoting lasting peace in Mindanao.

The BOL will create a new Muslim regional entity and replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

MILF Names Their Dead in Mamasapano Clash

By RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Iqbal says it was pure, simple misencounter

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal has released the names of 18 fighters killed and 14 others wounded in the January 25 "misencounter" between the Philippine National Police - Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and the 105th Base Command of the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The dead MILF members are:

Mahmod Saga Monib,
Salahudin Salindato,
Esmail Abid,
Abdorahim Abdila,
Daglala Kamed,

Ali Esmail,
Musib Hasim,
Omar Dagadas,
Rasul Zukarnin,
Mamarisa Omar,

Batrudin Langalen,
Gibinun Angkay,
Suweb Kemod,
Nasrudin Saptulla,
Salahudin Salindatu,

Mahmod Salah,
Kaharudin Baluno, and
Abdulrahim Abdullah.

The wounded MILF are:

Ali Surab,
Zainudin Lampak,
Salahudin Kunakon,
Zumaidi Untong,
Jomar Zailon,

Abdulgani Ramos,
Hamza Lampak,
Joel Guiman,
Abdulmaguid Pindi,
Norhak Sekak,

Saad Saya,
Ketay Muhammad,
Mustapa Pindi, and
Mahmod Lumbatan.

Iqbal released the names in a joint press conference of the MILF and Philippine government at the Palace of the Golden Horses in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia following the signing of the protocol for the terms of reference of the independent decommissioning body -- the rules governing the decommissioning of the MILF.

Iqbal expressed his condolences to the families of all those fallen in Mamasapano.

He also maintained their full commitment and determination to the facilitator for the successful conclusion of the peace process with the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

"Rest assured that no amount of obstacles along the way can stop us from pursuing the path of peace in Mindanao," he said.

Iqbal appealed to the media not to fan the emotions of hatred.

"Bangsamoro have also suffered a lot as a result of several massacres. The encounter in Mamasapano wasn't intended by either side -- from side of government and MILF. It was a pure and simple misencounter," he said

.

He said the operation was intended for the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which, he insisted, was the one coddling wanted suspected terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman.

'UGLY TURN'

Government chief peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer described the January 25 incident as an ugly turn of events, grieving as well for the nameless civilians who were also killed.

Nevertheless, Ferrer urged everyone to press on with the peace process despite questions on the sincerity of both sides.

To address the issues of confidence building, she said the independent decommissioning body, coordinating committee for the cessation of hostilities, joint normalization committee, and joint peace and security teams will prepare for the turnover of the first batch of MILF weapons under Phase 1.

She reported that last January 22, MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim personally handed over the list of 75 weapons, including the make and serial number, to the IDB head ambassador Haydar Berk.

Ferrer also reported an initial batch of 145 MILF combatants will be decommissioned, the list of which will be handed to IDB this week.

In exchange, the combatants will be given a socio-economic package in March. The actual ceremony will be in March.

Aside from the first batch to be decommissioned, both panels also agreed to a joint security assessment of the situation to address criminality and terrorism in MILF areas.

Ferrer maintained there are standing protocols. They will have a joint security assessment workshop with high-ranking officials of both sides.

Ferrer also announced that investigations into the Mamasapano incident will continue, with members of the international monitoring team on a field verification mission in the areas concerned.

"We managed to come up with concrete solutions soberly. The results will not become immediately evident. We will remain under scrutiny. We will have to regain the people's trust. Let our actions then speak louder than our words in due time," she said.

Iqbal stressed that the decommissioning is a sacrifice on the part of the MILF.

Ferrer, meanwhile, maintained confidence that lawmakers who are now having second thoughts about passing the BBL will come around.

"When the emotions go down and we go back to concrete task that will provide answer to complex situation, they certainly would respond to challenge."

Iqbal is hoping the MILF will be vindicated.

IDB Chief Ambassador Haydar Berk, one of three foreigners sitting with four local experts in the IDB, appealed for more trust in the process.

"I believe the important message is to keep peace process on track. It goes on track on basis of mutual trust. It will continue on basis of trust from both sides," Berk said.

Ramos Weighs in on New Bangsamoro Region

FORMER president Fidel V. Ramos said the government has set an unrealistic time frame for a proposed law intended to set up a new autonomous Bangsamoro region in Southern Philippines.

Speaking at the Islam Democracy forum organized by the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) at the University of the Philippines in Diliman on Tuesday, Mr. Ramos said the government should extend its time frame to complete its plan.

“Ang kulang ay yung panahon kasi [Time is lacking because] you can’t just take these things for granted. Just because there is an expert panel, that does not mean that everybody will accept it within the time frame established by the government. It doesn’t work that way,” the former president said.

The administration of President Benigno S. C. Aquino III is eyeing to have the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) approved by Congress by the first quarter of 2015.

Asked what the administration should do to ensure that the planned Bangsamoro region will not be doomed to fail, Mr. Ramos said the national government should invest more in training the right people who will occupy key positions in the new region.

“There needs to be continuous training, at yung mga mahahalal na chief minister [and the chief minister who will be elected] must be well trained from the very beginning with the proper patriotism, proper sharing and caring for others and the republic of the PH.

“They will be part of the Philippines, they are not an independent entity,” Mr. Ramos said further.

Mr. Ramos was Philippine president from 1992 to 1998 -- the second chief executive in the restored democracy of the Fifth Republic which followed the fall of his cousin, the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos. Mr. Ramos was a leading participant in the People Power Revolution of 1986 that led to Mr. Marcos’s ouster and exile.

In 1996, Mr. Ramos forged a peace agreement with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) head Nur Misuari that briefly reintegrated the rebel leader into the political mainstream with his election as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), an entity organized during the administration of Mr. Ramos’s predecessor, Corazon C. Aquino.

In light of Mr. Misuari’s controversial stint in government, Mrs. Aquino’s son, the incumbent president, had criticized the ARMM as “a failed experiment. Many of the people continue to feel alienated by the system, and those who feel that there is no way out will continue to articulate their grievances through the barrel of a gun. We cannot change this without structural reform.”

Mr. Ramos emphasized that the ARMM is the outcome of a political process dating back to Mrs. Aquino’s presidency.

“It’s the leaders of the ARMM who were bad, not the Constitution,” he also said. 

(C) 2014 by BusinessWorld Online - Alden M. Monzon

Ramos Weighs in on New Bangsamoro Region

FORMER president Fidel V. Ramos said the government has set an unrealistic time frame for a proposed law intended to set up a new autonomous Bangsamoro region in Southern Philippines.

Speaking at the Islam Democracy forum organized by the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) at the University of the Philippines in Diliman on Tuesday, Mr. Ramos said the government should extend its time frame to complete its plan.

“Ang kulang ay yung panahon kasi [Time is lacking because] you can’t just take these things for granted. Just because there is an expert panel, that does not mean that everybody will accept it within the time frame established by the government. It doesn’t work that way,” the former president said.

The administration of President Benigno S. C. Aquino III is eyeing to have the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) approved by Congress by the first quarter of 2015.

Asked what the administration should do to ensure that the planned Bangsamoro region will not be doomed to fail, Mr. Ramos said the national government should invest more in training the right people who will occupy key positions in the new region.

“There needs to be continuous training, at yung mga mahahalal na chief minister [and the chief minister who will be elected] must be well trained from the very beginning with the proper patriotism, proper sharing and caring for others and the republic of the PH.

“They will be part of the Philippines, they are not an independent entity,” Mr. Ramos said further.

Mr. Ramos was Philippine president from 1992 to 1998 -- the second chief executive in the restored democracy of the Fifth Republic which followed the fall of his cousin, the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos. Mr. Ramos was a leading participant in the People Power Revolution of 1986 that led to Mr. Marcos’s ouster and exile.

In 1996, Mr. Ramos forged a peace agreement with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) head Nur Misuari that briefly reintegrated the rebel leader into the political mainstream with his election as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), an entity organized during the administration of Mr. Ramos’s predecessor, Corazon C. Aquino.

In light of Mr. Misuari’s controversial stint in government, Mrs. Aquino’s son, the incumbent president, had criticized the ARMM as “a failed experiment. Many of the people continue to feel alienated by the system, and those who feel that there is no way out will continue to articulate their grievances through the barrel of a gun. We cannot change this without structural reform.”

Mr. Ramos emphasized that the ARMM is the outcome of a political process dating back to Mrs. Aquino’s presidency.

“It’s the leaders of the ARMM who were bad, not the Constitution,” he also said. 

(C) 2014 by BusinessWorld Online - Alden M. Monzon