PHILIPPINES' MILF BEGINS REUNIFICATION IN THE SOUTH

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and one of three factions of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) organised a committee to empower and unite all Bangsamoro people through preaching and education, said Luwaran, the MILF’s website.

During a third round of informal talks held by MNLF leader Dr Abdul Rahman Ameen and MILF leader, Mohagher Iqbal in Davao City over the weekend, they organised a “Unity and Advocacy Committee”, to “work for the empowerment and strengthening of unity of the Bangsamoro through [Islamic preaching] and education,” Luwaran said.

The two parties also created an ad-hoc joint secretariat to help the two groups continue their dialogue after their third informal meeting.

 

While MILF begins reunification with faction, The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) urged government to stop plans to bid out oil and natural gas contracts Bangsamoro areas until the issue on wealth sharing can be finalised.

In an article carried in its Luwaran website, the MILF called on the government to defer awarding oil and natural gas contracts in the Liguasan Marsh and Sulu Sea areas until the issue on wealth sharing between the government and the Bangsamoro can be finalised. The government early this month signed the so-called “Framework Agreement” with the MILF. The agreement basically creates a new political entity, for the Moros that will be called the “Bangsamoro”.

President Benigno Aquino, in a speech announcing the framework pact on October 7, said one of the crucial features of the agreement was that the Bangsamoro will be given more equitable share in the resources in their claimed areas.

“The Filipinos of Bangsamoro… will be assured a fair and equitable share of taxation, revenues, and the fruits of national patrimony. They will enjoy equal protection of laws and access to impartial justice,” Aquino said.

Source: Agency