Marcos urged: Address unfinished gov’t peace pact with MILF

MANILA, Philippines — A civic group in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss the exit agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a key step toward completing the peace process.

In a statement Tuesday, AMANA BARMM welcomed Palace press officer Claire Castro’s announcement that Malacañang was arranging a meeting between Marcos and MILF chairperson Al Haj Murad Ebrahim to discuss the implementation of the Bangsamoro peace agreement. However, no definite date has been set for the meeting.

READ: MILF chief seeks meeting with Marcos

Article continues after this advertisement

In a letter dated Oct. 1 and sent through Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Ebrahim said the MILF wanted to reaffirm its commitment to peace and hold talks with the administration on regional stability, peace and unity following the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

Ebrahim said the meeting would allow both parties to raise concerns and agree on concrete steps to fully implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The CAB was signed by the government and the MILF to end decades of armed conflict in Mindanao.

AMANA BARMM said the exit agreement was “at stake” while the meeting between Marcos and Ebrahim remained pending. The group noted that the agreement requires the signatures of both the government and the MILF.

“Only [Ebrahim], whom the MILF recognizes as its Amirul Mujahideen, can sign for the front. About 14,000 former fighters await the final phase of decommissioning,” the group said.

READ: Concerns raised over unfinished gov’t MILF peace pact

Article continues after this advertisement

AMANA BARMM Sultan Alim Saad Amate underscored the importance of the dialogue, saying, “This peace is long overdue. We hope the president sees its importance and listens to the Bangsamoro people.”

AMANA BARMM convenor Maulana Mamutuk also expressed hope that the meeting would take place before Oct. 30, “before it is overtaken by events.”

Article continues after this advertisement

The BARMM parliament is scheduled to elect its chief minister and hold its inaugural session on Oct. 30.

Of the 80 seats in the parliament, 40 were allocated to four political parties. The Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) and the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) received the two largest allocations.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

The BFP, the party of BARMM interim Chief Abdulraof Macacua, secured 16 seats, while the UBJP, the MILF’s political party, received 15 seats. /das