NEWS




23December

MILF – IP’s Leaders hold dialogue in Cotabato City

Cotabato City. (December 23, 2017) - The 2nd MILF - IP Leaders Dialogue for Peace in the Bangsamoro was held at Em Manor Hotel on November 29 - 30, 2017.

The dialogue is a platform aimed at having a better understanding of issues besetting the Moro - IP relationship.

The said activity was conducted by the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) thru the Facility for Advisory Support for Transition Capacities (FASTRAC) that provides support for an inclusive peace process, and the establishment of the  Bangsamoro entity in Southern Philippines.

The dialogue was attended by the Chair of MILF Peace Implementing Panel Mohagher Iqbal as resource person on the history of the Bangsamoro. He included the narratives of the Moro opposition to the inclusion of Moro Homeland to the Philippines, viz a viz : Petition  of Sulu Moros in 1921; Zamboanga Declaration on February 1 , 1924 ; Dansalan ( Marawi) in 1935 ; The repressive government policies on Moro - IP's;  ( e.g. creation of colonies, and settlements of migrants from Luzon, and the Visayas,  Land laws, etc.  ), and the " Minoritization " of the Moros. 

Commissioner Timuay Melanio Ulama of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, a full blooded Te'duray reiterated his unconditional support to the peace process called for the unity of all IP's in the Bangsamoro core area. 

Another Te'duray leader, Timuay Alim Bandara of Timuay Justice and Governance committed to support the Bangsamoro aspiration, and called for the recognition of IP governance within the context of Bangsamoro entity. 

On the part of the civil society organization,  Abdullah P. Salik Jr. , former  Vice Mayor of Upi,  Maguindanao, and now the President of the Federation  of the Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations, Inc. (FBCSO), one of invited participants move for the creation, and institutionalization of the MORO - IP Coordination Committee as one of the component of peace process, and as a platform for a better understanding, and strengthening of their relationships as a fora on the issues confronting them for the establishment of the Bangsamoro government. 

Timuay Gumbalia Gunsi, an Upi Te'duray leader, and a retired DILG official seconded the motion, and the participants agreed among themselves to submit their recommendations to the Chairman of MILF Peace Implementing Panel Mohagher Iqbal for the creation and designation of Moro - IP Leaders to compose the committee.