NEWS




1January
In photo- MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim delivering his message during the Multi-Sectoral Assembly for BOL in the village of Gambar, Mother Kabuntalan, Maguindanao hosted by BIAF Chief Sammy Al Mansoor on December 30, 2018

BIAF Chief of Staff Sammy Al Mansoor hosts Multi-Sectoral Assembly

Newly appointed OPAPP Secretary, and Retired AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr.  and members of the Central Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led by Al Haj Murad Ebrahim attended the Multi-Sectoral Assembly for the Ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) hosted by BIAF Chief of Staff Sammy Al Manssor at Gambar, Mother Kabuntalan, Maguindanao on December 30, 2018.

None but all has a common voice to vote yes for the BOL, and called on everyone to cast the same vote during the January 21st plebiscite for the ratification of the BOL.

In Photo-OPAPP Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr. delivering his message during the Multi-Sectoral Assembly at Gambar, Mother Kabuntalan, Maguindanao

Sec. Galvez made a recollection of his statement made while still active on duty as Chief of the AFP that after his retirement, he will support the BOL and work for peace in the Bangsamoro. 

He said, his coming to the assembly was a start of the fulfilment of his words. He also made a recollection of his days in the Senate hearings together with MILF Peace Implementing Panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal where both of them were subjected to painstaking interrogations from some lawmakers.

He praised MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad who upon invitation visited the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Camp Aguinaldo, Metro Manila, as the first rebel chief to do so.

Both leaders were erstwhile adversaries during the conflict but now working hand in hand for the dawning of peace in Mindanao. 

Al Haj Murad in his message said he was concern much on how to make the management of the future autonomous government worthy for the best interest and welfare of the people in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

He said he does not want a scenario that some people feel that the huge budget for the Autonomous Government would just mean the soar high of the gains of corruption by some officials- to-be in the government being shaped. 

He also made a memory of his revolutionary days in some areas of Mindanao where many civilians they mingled with refused to provide them refuge for fear of government punishment. 

Al Haj Murad reciprocated with praise the statement of Sec. Galvez in saying that the general was the first AFP Chief to come to an MILF Camp with only an instrument of peace. His final call is for everyone to vote yes for the BOL.

Assembly host Abdulraof “Sammy Al Mansoor” Macacua, also known as Sammy Gambar mentioned the significance of Gambar to him and the MILF. 

He said, it is his birthplace. It was also once the Central Camp of the MILF, a strategic and convenient place during those days for many MILF commanders to come being just few miles from their native barangays. 

In his brief message, Iqbal said, the BOL has undergone many ladders, first was during the bloody engagement between the government and the MILF, then during the negotiations, then during the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), and the filing of the Bill in Congress. 

In all steps, blood and tears were spent to come up with this BOL. It is just an opportunity for us not to miss or not to waste this chance towards the fruit of those mentioned stages by voting yes to the BOL. 

Rep. Bai Sandra Sema of 1st District of Maguindanao, and Cotabato City said in her message recalled the story on how she maneuvered in overcoming the anti BOL in Congress. 

Her husband Datu Muslimin Sema traced back his years in the struggle up to his captivity by the military, then to the peace process. He said, the BOL is the inclusive document for all the agreements signed between the government and the Moro fronts. It is just right for us to ratify positively on the BOL. 

Mayor Datu Tucao Mastura of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao narrated his experiences in the struggle but most of all called on every one to vote yes to the BOL. While Dr. Susana Anayatin touched on the fiscal autonomy in the BOL. She said, the Bangsamoro officials of the BARMM will no longer beg funds from the National government. She called on the people for favor for the BOL.

Tens of thousands graced the assembly. Among the leading personalities that attended were BTC Commissioner Melanio Ulama, Mayor Datu Midpantao “Antao” Midtimbang, Hadji Datu Ali Midtimbang, Cotabato Board Member Kelly Antao, LGU leaders, Col. Randy Banaag of the AFP, AFP officers and men, Atty. Najuib Sinarimbo, MILF Commanders and their troops as well as their political committees, professionals, farmers, fishermen and local residents including those coming from nearby localities.