Rody urged to convene Bangsamoro summit
COTABATO CITY — The League of Provincial Governors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) yesterday urged President Duterte to convene in all Moro leaders and stakeholders on Bangsamoro autonomy and persuade them to come up with a common stand on the ageold quest for peace and growth in the south.
“President Duterte enjoys the respect of majority of Filipinos and most, if not all, Muslims. He can use such charisma to convene all stakeholders from Moro and indigenous peoples’ sectors in one meeting and sway them into coming up with a common formula for genuine peace in Mindanao,” said Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, the newly elected ARMM provincial governors’ league chairman.
The Bulletin interviewed Mangudadatu after he and league members, together with ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, met President Duterte in Malacañang on Monday night.
Monday night’s meeting at the Palace was attended by Hataman, Mangudadatu and the other ARMM provincial governors Jim Hataman-Saliman of Basilan, Sakur Tan II of Sulu, Rashidin Matba of Tawi-Tawi, and Vice Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur, representing his mother, Gov. Soraya.
Lawyer Rasol Mitmug Jr., ARMM chief-of-staff who was in the meeting, said President Duterte asked the governors to rally behind his administration’s agenda for peace in Mindanao, particularly the planned legislation of “inclusive” BBL, after hearing their individual provinces’ related development concerns.
“The President told the governors of his priority attention to Mindanao through big investments… including the putting up of railways in the region. But the President stressed the need for stable peace as prelude for such investments,” Mitmug said.
The President also prodded the Moro governors to support his push for federalism, while even raising the possibility of having a Muslim president under the federal government, Mitmug said.
Mangudadatu said the governors issued the appeal to the President after it was learned that he would be spending 10 days in Mindanao soon to reach out to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari, and that technical experts of the MNLF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have drafted here a common stand on the planned legislation of an enhanced Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
It was learned that Misuari’s legal counsel Randolph Parcasio had earlier submitted to Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Jesus Dureza a copy their group’s own formula, while the MNLF technical peace represented faction Chairman Muslimin Sema in the meeting with MILF counterparts on Saturday and Sunday here where the joint consensus for an “inclusive” BBL version.
“It will be tedious for the President to meet each concerned personality just to hear their sentiments and suggestions. A one-stop meeting with all MNLF and MILF bigwigs, as well as ARMM elected officials, and leaders of various sectors in Mindanao will simplify the process in more efficient fashion,” Mangudadatu said.