INDANAN, SULU- Yusoph Jikiri, Chairman of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) urged his comrades in the MNLF to strongly support the enactment of the Bangsmoro Basic Law (BBL). He made the statement on January 23 in Barangay Pasil, in his hometown Indanan, Province of Sulu.
Chairman Jiriki told his comrades, “We, the leaders of the MNLF, and Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed an agreement in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia”.
However, Jikiri did not disclosed the agreement they signed with the MILF.
Chairman Jikiri said, the MILF treats us(MNLF) as their partners in achieving the Bangsamoro aspiration.
MNLF, and MILF are different organizations but they have common ideology; that is Islam, and have the same objectives, to achieve the Moro right to self-determination, peace, harmony among stakeholders and development of the region.
“The MNLF Mujaheedin in Sulu are happy to know that the MILF will not just share the products of the negotiations they entered into with the Government of the Philippines but eventually they will be strong partners in the implementation of the signed agreements between the government, and the two largest Moro Fronts, ‘ Jikiri added.
Chairman Jikiri admitted that not all residents of Sulu are in favor of the BBL because of the presence of spoilers of peace, and some traditional politicians who want to cling to power.
“But we will do something once a plebiscite is to be conducted for the BBL so that the proposed law will be accepted by our peace loving people of Sulu”.
Meanwhile, the MILF Political Committees in Sulu are anxious to welcome to Sulu Honorable Senator Migz Zubiri, Chair of the Senate Sub-Committee on BBL, and his delegation of lawmakers.
Zubiri and his party will conduct Public Hearing on BBL in BASULTA this coming February 8-11.
The MILF in Sulu are thankful to Senator Zubiri for filing, and sponsoring Senate Bill No. 1646, also known as the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the one crafted by the 21-Member Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
The Bangsamoro Mujaheedin in Sulu Archipelago are hopeful that the passage of BBL will end extremism, and brings about economic development once peace reigns in Mindanao, and the island provinces of Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi.
“The passage of BBL by congress will redound to genuine, and development in Sulu, home to various armed groups, including private armies,” one officer of MILF Political Committee said.