Abdullah Macapaar, center, who uses the nom de guerre Commander Bravo, along with some of the fiercest Muslim rebel commanders in the southern Philippines, takes his oath during a ceremony for the creation of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority or BTA at the Presidential Palace in Manila, on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. The Muslim rebels will serve as administrators of a new Muslim autonomous region in a delicate milestone to settle one of Asia’s longest-raging rebellions. Several commanders, including Commander Bravo, long wanted for deadly attacks were given safety passes to be able to travel to Manila and join the ceremony. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) lauded on Saturday the appointment of 80 individuals as members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
The PCID said in a statement that they trust and expect that the appointment of the 80 members would use its potential in addressing the problems in Mindanao.
“Cognizant of the people’s clamor for inclusive development amidst years of poverty, illiteracy and economic growth, we expect the BTA to effectively utilize the additional powers and mechanisms provided by the BOL to ensure better and more responsive governance to the needs of the region and its constituents,” PCID said.
Nevertheless, it noted that solving the conflict in the region through the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is not easy.
“As has been off repeated, the BOL ratification is not a quick fix for the systemic problems of the region. Ending decades of violent conflict and healing the divide caused by civil strife may not be accomplished overnight,” PCID said.
“Weak and poor governance in the autonomous region cannot be resolved by a mere change in the region’s organic law,” it added.
With this, the PCID urged the public to support the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomour Region of Muslim Mindanao toward attaining peace and development in the region.
On Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Moro Islamic Liberation Front chair Murad Ebrahim as the BTA’s iterim chief minister, who will temporarily lead the regional parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. /jpv
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