“NEXT FOCUS IS CRAFTING AND ENACTMENT OF LAW”- PRESS SECRETARY COLOMA Tuesday, Jan 28 2014 Written by Desk Editor Press Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on January 26 that after the signing of the last of four annexes of the GPH-MILF Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) , the “next focus is on the crafting and enactment of a law that will establish a Bangsamoro political entity”. He said that “the Bangsamoro Basic Law is being drafted and will be submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to Congress in May”. The panels also signed the addendum on Bangsamoro waters, which outlines the delineation of territorial waters that will be governed by the Bangsamoro entity as well as arrangements outside the region’s maritime limits. The commission is a 15-member body created by the government and the MILF, and composed mostly of Muslim scholars with two Tedurays representing the indigenous peoples and one Christian. “Once this bill is enacted into law, then it will be submitted to the people (of Mindanao) for a plebiscite,” Coloma said in his regular weekend interview over state-run DZRB. The three other annexes of FAB, the annex on transitional arrangements and modalities was signed in February last year, the annex on revenue generation and wealth sharing in July, and annex on power sharing last December 2013. In October 2012, the two peace panels signed the FAB which envisioned the creation of a new political entity called Bangsamoro that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in June 2016, before President Aquino steps down from office. According to GPH Peace Panel Chairman Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, part of the normalization process is the “disbandment” of private armed groups in Mindanao, particularly those attached to politicians. A third party “independent body” will also be put up which will be in charge of “decommissioning” or will make a list and verify MILF forces who want to return to the fold of the law. It is also in this normalization process where MILF rebels are expected to “lay down” their arms, and where government, in turn, will “reduce its military presence” in areas that will eventually be considered part of the Bangsamoro region. Last January 26, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was quoted by Philstar saying Congress will craft the Bangsamoro Basic Law that would ensure full implementation of the peace agreement between the government and the MILF within the bounds of the Constitution. Belmonte also said the House of Representatives is keenly awaiting the proposed Basic Law being drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission. “We strongly support initiatives for lasting peace and prosperity in Mindanao and this will surely be well-debated in the House. But there’s no doubt in the sincerity and eagerness of members of the House to do excellent work in crafting the Basic Law,” Belmonte said. He said he dispatched at least six lawmakers to the signing in Kuala Lumpur of the Annex on Normalization on Saturday to act as observers and to show the chamber’s continued support for the peace process. The House leader said he expects there would be no need to amend the Constitution in fully implementing the forthcoming final peace agreement. On its part, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) through Chairman Sixto Brillantes said on January 26 that the poll body gave its blessing to the MILF’s plan to form a political party and participate in the 2016 elections. Chairman Brillantes said he sees no reason for the poll body to block the possible entry of the MILF into the political arena. “Members of the MILF are also Filipinos, so why would we stop them if they want to form a political party and run in the next elections,” Chairman Brillantes said in an interview.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 07:19:21 +0000
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