Rody may launch Bangsamoro transition body next week
COTABATO CITY – President Duterte is likely to launch the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) on Feb. 21, officials hinted yesterday.
The BTA will oversee the transition from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to the incoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM.
Senior government officials said preparations are underway for next week’s symbolic launching of the BTA in Malacañang.
The BTA will oversee the operation of BARMM, a product of more than 20 years of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, pending the election of its pioneering set of officials.
The BTA shall be comprised of representatives from the MILF and the government, among them officials of the now outgoing ARMM.
The figurehead of the MILF, Hadji Murad Ebrahim, will lead the BTA, to include other officials of their central committee.
Residents of Lamitan City are urging Murad, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. and Duterte to consider designating one of them as BTA member.
Christian residents in Lamitan City, the capital of Basilan province, voted for BOL’s ratification during the Jan. 21 plebiscite in all of ARMM’s five provinces.
The ARMM also covers Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Local officials said commu- nity leaders in Lamitan City want their Sangguniang Panlungsod to pass a resolution urging Malacañang, the MILF and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to consider their desire to have a representative in the BTA.
Lamitan City Vice Mayor Roderick Furigay confirmed on Thursday the clamor of the 45 barangay chairmen.
Christian barangay officials in Lamitan City told reporters that senior MILF officials have assured them of representation in the BTA during their plebiscite campaign sorties in the city.
Furigay said Muslim and Christian barangay captains in Lamitan City were together in campaigning for an affirmative vote for the BOL, resulting in the overwhelming approval of the measure.
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