Palace welcomes MILF plan to form political party

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang supports the plan of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to set up its  own political party in  preparation for the 2016 elections.

 

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Monday the government welcomes the political plans of the MILF, which forged a framework peace agreement last year with the government to create a new Bangsamoro political entity  that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

 

"As you all know, the road map towards the establishment of the Bangsamoro ends in 2016 and, understandably, the MILF needs to prepare for that to make the necessary preparation," she said.

 

Valte said the government will be providing the necessary assistance to the MILF if they pursue their plan.

 

"We’ve seen this in the socio-economic initiatives that we’ve launched... and I would defer to [Presidential Peace Adviser] Secretary [Teresita] Deles and to the members of the [peace negotiating] panel if any sort of assistance towards their political plans have been discussed amongst themselves," said Valte.

 

In an article posted on the Moro group's website, luwaran.com, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad said the rebel group will start forming a political party “within this year” in preparation for the 2016 elections when the first set of officials of the Bangsamoro is expected to be elected.

 

“[W]e want to maintain the status of the MILF as an Islamic organization and the political party will be the arm of the MILF for the political process," Murad was quoted as saying in the article.

 

He said they have yet to name the political party which will definitely contain the word “Bangsamoro.”

 

Meanwhile, the government and the MILF peace panels continue to work on the remaining annexes -- those on wealth-sharing, power-sharing and normalization -- in preparation for the signing of a final and comprehensive peace agreement. 

 

"Well, work on the three annexes are continuing and the panel will provide updates to the media as soon as they are available. Allow us to say at this point that both parties are determined to complete the implementation of the BFA or the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and its annexes within the term of the President so as not to leave any unfinished business for the next administration," Valte said.

 

The framework agreement was signed by the national government and the MILF on October 15, 2012.

 

In December last year, Aquino also issued Executive Order No. 120 creating a Transition Commission that will draft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law provided for in the framework agreement.