Cotabato City—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership is doing rounds of camps for community-based dialogue-series among its field forces and sympathizers for engaging consultation.
The Office of the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said the MILF consultation was being conducted since August 14 in forums and assemblies within and outside the core territory of the BARMM.
BARMM interim Chief Minister Ahod Al-Hadj Murad Ebrahim stressed that the MILF is the foundation of the organization that gave the Bangsamoro people the direction and strength during its armed struggle.
“It offered the guidance we needed during the peace negotiations. It is also the organization that introduced the Bangsamoro identity to the international community and, subsequently, led the crafting of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB),” he said.
“Ultimately, it is the organization that has given the Bangsamoro its governance of the BARMM,” Ebrahim said in an interview.
Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BIAF-GS senior legal adviser and UBJP Deputy Secretary General, said by holding the consultation-series, the MILF leadership aims “to take first-hand from the general sentiments of our people and at the same time to inform them of the latest developments obtaining in the BARMM from what has been done so far by the MILF and its political party the UBJP.
Status and challenges besetting the implementation of the Peace Process were also discussed during the first- through the third-leg of the consultation, Dumato said.
“As the MILF transitions from being an armed revolutionary organization, it needs to understand more concretely how its own people and supporters are making the adjustments and what challenges they confront and how better it can contribute to hurdling these.” the UBJP deputy secretary-general said.
Dumato said one of the consultation meetings was attended by tens of thousands of MILF members and supporters who expressed full and continuing support to the MILF leadership and the BARMM government.
He said the first of a series of consultations was held on August 14 at the MSU gymnasium in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. The activity was spearheaded by MENRE Minister and BIAF-GS Administrator Akmad “Toks” Ebrahim under the stewardship of Governor Yshmael I. Sali.
Simultaneously, the MILF members and supporters elsewhere gathered in Tipo-Tipo in Basilan and in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.
The following day, August 15, thousands also flocked to the territory of Abdullah Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo, in Camp Kura-Kura of Lanao del Norte. Macapaar is also a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament, Dumato said.
While in Sulu, on the same day, thousands also gathered at an MILF camp in Tandu-Tandu in Panamao, Sulu.
“Yesterday, August 18, tens of thousands of MILF members and supporters joined a consultation assembly in Pikit, North Cotabato which was led by BARMM Senior Minister and BIAF Chief of Staff Abdulraof “Sammy Al Mansoor” Macacua, who is also the UBJP Secretary General. Mayor Sumulong Sultan of Pikit supported the event,” Dumato said.
MILF leaders were also hosted on the same day thousands in a leg consultation held at the plaza of the New City Hall of Tagum City which was graced by City Councilor Engr. Agripino Corquilla representing Mayor Rey Uy.
Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon was represented by Alem Al Jor Decayan.
The same consultation-assemblies will be held in Cotabato City, Maguindanao, and other areas in areas in Central Mindanao, Southern and Southeastern Mindanao.