How Bangsamoro entity could expand territory
  • 5 years ago
MANILA - An analyst believes government and the Muslim community should be proactive in ensuring the success of the peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. University of the Philippines dean Julkipli Wadi told ANC's Talkback there must be greater participation from sectors affected by the comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro, which was signed last week. Wadi said government and the Bangsamoro people must push for a social reform agenda in the formation of the political entity. "You cannot just isolate the Bangsamoro in the larger body of politic, given the relationship between the two systems." "We just saw the euphoria in mainland Mindanao like Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, but not in Western Mindanao like Zamboanga, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, just to show that indeed there is a divide as far as Mindanao support on this is concerned." "If they don't, as I said, own this process, it will be difficult for this to push forward" Meanwhile, Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat raises concerns on one of the provisions of the agreement. That provision allows nearby areas to join the Bangsamoro entity upon a petition of at least 10 percent of the residents approved through a plebiscite. "This will be a perennial gerrymandering. The Bangsamoro trying to get more territory. This will be a constant tug of war between the Bangsamoro and the local governments. Instead of creating peace, there will be instability," Lobregat said. MORNINGS@ANC, April 1, 2014