IN PHOTO- Members of the IMT Mindanao Mission 13 led by Malaysian Dato Haji Mohd Bin Haji Mami with MILF PIP Chair Mohagher Iqbal, Jun Mantawail, Head of MILF PIP Secretariat, and Engr. Muhajirin Ali, member of MILF PIP Secretariat at the Office of Bangsamoro Transition Commission

13th IMT Head of Mission Pays Courtesy Call to MILF PIP

• May 5, 2018
• Arya Shariff, Luwaran
• HITS: 1901

COTABATO CITY - The 13th International Monitoring Team (IMT), led by the Head of Mission Major General Dato Haji Mohd Nazir Bin Haji Mami and his delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) - Peace Implementing Panel (PIP) at the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) Office, Cotabato City on May 5, 2018. 

“The BIAF combatants should have more engagements” was what Major General Dato Haji Modh Nazir Bin Haji Mami suggested to the MILF-PIP in his message. According to him, additional engagements must be conducted for MILF combatants focused on educating them on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and how its passage can benefit them. 

“The combatants will be mostly affected by the peace process”, he added. He reiterated that during his peace advocacies in MILF camps, he reminded the combatants to stay calm and honor the signed peace agreements. Furthermore “The combatants should remain intact and support the leadership”, he said.  

MILF-PIP Chair Mohagher Iqbal provided a brief overview of the Peace Process and its current status to the group. He explained to them the three tracks of the Implementation Phase of the Peace Process, including the aspects and mechanisms of each track. The Implementation Phase of the Peace Process is consisting of the Political-Legislative Track, the Normalization Track, and the Security Track. 

 “The passage of the BBL is a unilateral responsibility of the government of the Philippines and they must deliver”, Iqbal added. He recounted to the group the legislative process that the BBL has gone through and its current status in the Upper and Lower House of the Congress. 

On April 16, 2018, the Joint Committee of the House of Representatives has approved the omnibus motion of Cong. Bai Sandra Sema to retain ‘as is’ the BTC-version of the BBL. 

In the Senate, the BBL is still undergoing interpellations and Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said that they are aiming to pass the BBL on May 23, 2018.  

“As far as statements and commitments by the legislative, I think there are enough reason to say that the BBL will pass, but in terms of the process, you can never tell”, Iqbal further said.

Iqbal also shared some of the challenges that are currently and will be encountered by the Peace Process and the efforts of the MILF in addressing these challenges. He also clarified some of the concerns regarding the establishment of the Bangsamoro Police.

The Head of Mission requested the MILF-PIP, together with the Government Panel, to convene all organizations which are part of the mechanisms of the Peace Process for a coordination meeting. He emphasized the importance of such activity to minimize the duplication of tasks and to complement the efforts of each organization towards the Peace Process.

Iqbal said that they will include the suggestion to convene all the mechanisms on the proposed agenda to be discussed by the MILF and GPH Peace Implementing Panels on their next meeting. 

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