MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The central committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has rejected the appointment of Abdulraof Macacua as the new interim chief minister (ICM) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The committee issued the statement on Sunday following its Consultative Assembly attended by MILF key officials, political and military leaders, religious sectors, and other Bangsamoro stakeholders.
It stressed that this violates Section 2, Article XVI of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), stating that 鈥淭he MILF shall lead the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, without prejudice to the participation of the Moro National Liberation Front in its membership,鈥� as well as the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro.
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鈥淕uided by the Consultative Assembly鈥檚 inputs and recommendations, the MILF Central Committee learned the agony, growing frustrations, and concerns of the attendees over the recent presidential appointments in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which failed to adhere strictly to the officially endorsed list of 41 nominees submitted by the MILF,鈥� the statement reads.
鈥淎s it stands now, only 35 out of the 41 names formally endorsed by the MILF were appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Clearly, this nonconformity with the list of nominees is an act [that] can be categorized as meddling into the internal affairs of MILF and directly erodes the principle of autonomy enunciated in the BOL,鈥� it added.
The MILF central committee said the appointment of only 35 MILF nominees raised 鈥渟erious concerns about the integrity of the transition period and the commitment of the parties to the peace agreement.鈥�
鈥淚t is for the best interest of all that the leadership of the MILF is consulted and its decision be respected on matters of paramount importance to the Bangsamoro,鈥� the MILF stressed.
鈥淚t does not help that the National Government unilaterally decided to appoint a new interim Chief Minister despite the repeated sentiments of the MILF Central Committee, issued through various resolutions, to retain the then-sitting ICM,鈥� it added.
Although they recognized the President鈥檚 discretion in appointing Macacua, the committee said the 鈥渟takeholders hold the view that such a decision should have taken into careful consideration the position of the MILF.鈥�
鈥淭he implementation of the peace agreement lies in the symbiotic partnership between the MILF and the National Government -a relationship built on trust, mutual respect, and strict adherence, to both the spirit and the letters of the signed agreements,鈥� it said.
鈥淗aving learned the legitimate sentiments and valid observations expressed by the attendees and various stakeholders in the said Consultative Assembly, the MILF Central Committee emphasized that it is important for the Bangsamoro people to remain united. Further, everyone was reminded to reject any attempt to sow division and pit a brother against another,鈥� it added.