Duterte urged to be fair in appointing Bangsamoro Transition Authority members

MANILA, Philippines — The One Bangsamoro Movement asked President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday to be “equal and fair” in appointing members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).

The BTA will be composed of 80 members and is tasked to head the newly established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“In light of the appointment of the BTA, we are humbly asking your Office to consider an equal and fair representation among the Bangsamoro people and tribes,” Maulana Allan Balangi said in an open letter addressed to Duterte.

“There are thirteen tribes, excluding Lumads and Non-muslim settlers in the region, as well as Bangsamoro communities outside the region that should be represented. Likewise, we are also respectfully asking your Office to consider the qualifications, services, and integrity of the applicants,” Balangi added.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said that it has already submitted a list of nominees to the Office of President.

READ: No list yet of Bangsamoro Transition Authority appointees — OPAPP

Balangi said that at least half of the 80-member BTA should be endorsed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“We do acknowledge that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) should ‘lead’ the BTA ‘without prejudice to the participation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF),'” Balangi said.

“It does not mean that at least forty-one out of eighty members of the BTA members should be MILF members or endorsed by the MILF while the rest are MNLF-affiliated. Indeed, MILF should lead the BTA and with the collaboration of the MNLF,” he added.

Balangi said they are hoping that Duterte would fulfill its promise to correct the “historical injustice” in the region of Mindanao in previous years.

The ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) has been tagged as the first step in solving the rebellion in the region.

“Now, in realizing this and particularly the implementation of the BOL, after it was ratified, people to be appointed at the BTA should have capacity and experiences with impeccable integrity otherwise the BARMM will suffer the same mistakes like the failed ARMM,” he added.

The BOL was deemed ratified last January 25 after getting more than 1.5 million votes from the residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. /ee

READ: Yes votes have it: Law creating Bangsamoro region ratified