Cotabato City—The Bangsamoro Organic Law (BoL), which Congress passed in July, provides the last opportunity to achieve lasting peace in Muslim Mindanao, Hadji Murad Ibramim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said.
He was addressing thousands of residents and peace supporters gathered in a huge assembly here on Monday.
Schools and local authorities had suspended classes at all levels to anticipate huge influx of vehicles and people for the kick-off assembly here of the 45-day campaign period for the BoL ratification in all five-province and two-cities core territory of the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Murad said the BoL was “the last chance to attaining lasting peace” which all sectors—apart from the government and the MILF—are “bound by their common commitment to help achieve peace for our people.”
Under the BoL which enacted by Congress as Republic Act 11054 on July 23 to 24, BARMM will replace the current ARMM once the law is ratified with a majority “yes” vote in a plebiscite set for Jan. 27.
A second plebiscite will also be held on Feb. 5, 2019 for local government units outside the core ARMM territory but which may opt to join or have petitioned to become part of an expanded BARMM territory.
He said the non-Muslims would not have to worry about being left out in BARMM governance.
“For, we saw to it that there are specific offices to look after the welfare of the Lumad, the Indigenous Peoples Tribes, as well as the Christian settlers,” he said.
Murad said he did not want to be named head of BARMM, but that it was the collective decision of the MILF Central Committee that he would be holding the top post of the proposed Parliament, during the transition period from 2019 to 2022, as provided under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed in 2014.
“This is not about leadership as I am contented with being MILF chairman. But I have to abide by the decision of the Central Committee to lead the Parliament. But after the transition period, you would be free to choose by electing your leaders,” Murad said.