Members of the MNLF – Nur Misuari faction gather at the Cotabato City hall lobby to support city Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi in opposing BOL and inclusion of the city to BARMM. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY SAM MUNDAS
COTABATO CITY – While President Rodrigo Duterte was rallying the Bangsamoro to vote for the ratification of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), about 3,000 members of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF-Misuari faction) gathered at the Cotabato City Hall here, opposing what Duterte was campaigning for.
Duterte campaigned for “yes” for the ratification of Republic Act No. 11054 or the BOL during the peace assembly at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) inside the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) compound here on Friday.
“Minamahal kong mga Moro brothers and sisters, let us vote yes for BOL,” the President told a gathering attended by Duterte’s cabinet officials, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the MNLF under Chairman Yusof Jikiri, ARMM officials and Bangsamoro people.
READ: Duterte: Vote ‘yes’ for Bangsamoro Law
He also urged them to stand up against Islamic violent extremism.
“We must stand together against ISIS because they know nothing but to kill,” Duterte said, adding he would never talk peace with the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) that operates mainly in ARMM provinces.
But not all were supporting Duterte’s BOL.
Sam Mundas, an official of Cotabato City government, said the MNLF and other Bangsamoro people voluntarily showed up at the Cotabato City People’s Palace (City Hall) in red shirts chanting “No to BOL” and “Yes to Federalism.”
They brought with them the original MNLF red flag.
“We are from MNLF Nur Misuari faction, we are opposed to BOL and we want federalism to come,” Ansarudin Asim, one of the MNLF members gathered at the city hall compound, about 800 meters from ARMM compound where thousands of MILF and pro-BOL gathered to listen to President Duterte.
They dispersed as soon as the President’s speech was over.
Cotabato City and Isabela City residents will be asked if they wish to join the BARMM in a plebiscite for BOL on January 21, Monday. /jpv