Huge Cotabato rally demands Bangsamoro pact’s full execution

COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — Tens of thousands of supporters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its political party, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), gathered here Thursday to demand the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the landmark peace deal the group inked with the government in 2014 that formally ended its separatist struggle.

The MILF itself expressed support to the peace rally held in front of the Bangsamoro Government Complex, the seat of government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The rally was led by the Recover BARMM Now, a coalition of peace advocates, civil society organizations, religious and traditional leaders, youth and women leaders, professionals and community organizations.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Bangsamoro chief welcomes peace rally staged by MILF supporters

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

Aside from the CAB’s full implementation, the peace rally called for the reinstatement of MILF chair Ahod “Al Haj” Ebrahim as BARMM chief minister, the resignation of Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., and the immediate designation of someone to head the government’s  Peace Implementing Panel (PIP) that oversees implementation of the peace deal.

READ: Supreme Court urged to act on Bangsamoro parliamentary poll cases

Sheik Abdulhadie Gumander, Recover BARMM Now spokesperson, told the Inquirer that the gathering seeks “to amplify the voices of the Bangsamoro people” pertaining to the issues facing the peace process.

Abdulhadie said the full implementation of the Bangsamoro peace accord has been “put on hold” because of the government’s inaction over the appointment of its PIP head, a post that was vacated last February after the resignation of retired military general Cesar Yano.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Peace is not sustained by promises alone. It is sustained by honoring commitments,” Gumander said.

Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF’s PIP, earlier attributed the delay of the Bangsamoro peace process to the absence of his counterpart in government, describing it as a “structural defect.”

Article continues after this advertisement

In response to the huge rally, Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento said the government remains fully committed to the full implementation of the CAB and the continued advancement of the Bangsamoro peace process.

Sarmiento said the gains of the peace process were achieved through the sacrifices, courage, and cooperation of all parties involved, stressing that it is the shared responsibility of the government and stakeholders to protect, strengthen and build upon these hard-earned achievements.

He emphasized that President Marcos remains “steadfast in his commitment to the full implementation of the CAB and to preserving and expanding the dividends of peace for the Bangsamoro people.”

Huge crowd

Participants from outside this city arrived as early as Wednesday evening and slept along Gov. Gutierrez Avenue.

Col. Jibin Bongcayao, director of the Cotabato City Police Office, estimated the crowd at between 50,000 and 80,000 participants.

In demanding the resignation of Lagdameo during the peace rally, rallyists pelted a tarpaulin bearing his image with eggs and tomatoes while chanting “Lagdameo, resign!”

The rally participants accused Lagdameo of meddling in the affairs of the BARMM, including the removal of Ebrahim as interim chief minister in March last year, and his replacement by Abdulraof Macacua.

Gumander said Lagdameo has been “giving ill-advice” to the President about BARMM which, according to him, also led to the reduction to only 35  the number of seats allotted to the MILF in the regional parliament.

Under Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority, which also serves as the interim Bangsamoro parliament, must be composed of 41 MILF nominees and the rest by government nominees.

Lagdameo has yet to respond to the MILF sympathizers’ call for his resignation.

Macacua welcomed the peace rally, describing it as “a healthy sign of democracy.”

“As long as it is peaceful and participants do not use profane language, that’s okay with me,” Macacua told reporters after visiting the towns of Mamasapano and Sultan sa Barongis in Maguindanao del Sur.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Last Monday, a huge rally by another group, which is allegedly supportive of Macacua, was staged in this city. The police estimated the crowd at 70,000. /cb