Gov’t negotiators, MILF set meeting after Congress shelves BBL

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – An emergency meeting has been set between Philippine government officials and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace negotiators following Congress’ decision not to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the rebel group’s chief negotiator said Wednesday.

Mohagher Iqbal did not say when the meeting would take place but added that it would discuss the next move of the two panels after the non-passage of the proposed law.

Iqbal said the two panels would also come out with a joint declaration in the light of the new development.

But he said the emergency meeting would not usher in a new round of negotiations.

“We are done with the negotiations with the government when we signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” Iqbal said.

The CAB was the five-page 12-point agreement that was made the basis for the crafting of the BBL.

On the other hand, the FAB, signed Oct. 12, 2012, outlined the “political settlement” between the Philippine government and the MILF; and the process of transition from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to the new Bangsamoro autonomous political entity.

Iqbal said the peace panels were supposed to meet over the issue of the delay in the BBL’s passage as early as December but the meeting was postponed. He did not say why it was postponed.

He said the MILF had already foreseen the non-passage of the proposed as early as 2015, and it wanted to discuss it with the government.

“The challenge now is how to manage the frustration of the people,” Iqbal said. SFM