‘Ministerial’ form of gov’t set for Bangsamoro territory in peace deal

Sec. Teresita Deles. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines – The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have agreed to create a ‘ministerial’ form of government for Bangsamoro territory to replace the present political structure in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, according to presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Deles.

“Ang pinagkasunduan, ang porma ng  gobyerno will be ministerial. Yung mas parliamentary. Ang ibig sabihin, hindi yung gobyerno na ngayon ay diretsong ini-elect pa ng mga residente (We agreed that the form  of government will be ministerial. It’s more like a parliamentary form, unlike the present government which is being elected by residents there),” Deles said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM on Monday.

Under a ministerial form of government, Deles said the people will elect their representatives to the assembly, which will elect its leader. The elected leader, she said, will be called the “chief minister.”

“Ito yung hiningi ng MILF at marami ring stakeholders. Pumayag ang gobyerno dahil sa tingin namin, this will help na maputol  na yung governor, ang kanyang main relationship ay nasa central government, sa Malacañang (This is was requested by the MILF and other stakeholders. The government approved it because we think that this will help stop the election of a governor, whose main relationship is with the central government, in Malacañang),”  she explained.

While they have yet to talk on the details of the agreement, Deles said there was a clear commitment that the MILF will become a political entity and should be ready to join, hopefully, in the 2016 elections.

She said the Aquino administration was hopeful that no “unfinished business” will be left behind before it ends its term in 2016.

For more details, listen to the radio interview.