Local execs pledge support for BBL
MAGUINDANAO — Regional and provincial officials yesterday reassured President Rodrigo Duterte of support for efforts to implement peace agreements with Moro rebels.
Their pledges were announced Monday, the second day of the grand Bangsamoro Assembly in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao.
The assembly, organized by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is to show the solidarity of participating Moro communities in calling for passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, now pending in Congress.
The bill is the enabling measure for the implementation of the two compacts between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front — the October 15, 2013 Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro and, subsequently, the March 27, 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro.
The draft BBL is needed to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with an MILF-led Bangsamoro regional entity. The ARMM has a regional charter, Republic Act 9054, which can only be repealed by law.
Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu said his administration is keen on expanding its scholarship program for Moro, Christian and Lumad students in the province in line with the humanitarian objectives of the envisioned Bangsamoro government.
“I am to graduate as three-term governor in 2019 but I am sure whoever replaces me will continue what we have started. This program already produced hundreds of Moro professionals,” Mangudadatu said.
Mangudadatu said his office and the league of mayors in the province support the peace process between the government and the MILF.
The provincial government’s Maguindanao Program for Peace and Community Empowerment supports more than 6,000 scholars, about 70 percent of them Moro college students.
The old capitol site, venue of the assembly, is now guarded jointly by personnel of the Army's 603rd Infantry Brigade and members of the MILF.