MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim shakes hands with President Aquino the first time he set foot in Malacañang in March. MALACAÑANG PHOTO
Malacañang on Saturday welcomed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) decision to form a political party for the 2016 elections.
“It’s a good sign that kahit ‘yung Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) ay hindi pa ho naipapasa at habang pinag-uusapan pa lang po ‘yan ngayon dito sa dalawang kapulungan natin sa Kongreso ay they are moving really to be part of the mainstream,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
(It’s a good sign that even if the Bangsamoro Basic Law is still being discussed by the two chambers of Congress, they are moving really to be part of the mainstream.)
READ: MILF forms own political party
Valte said forming a political party is not an assurance that the MILF will have seats in government since it is the people who will decide.
“But the fact that they are moving to put their organization under a political party for 2016, mas magandang ganyan ang gawin nila kaysa ‘yung to bear arms against government (that is better than to bear arms against the government),” she explained.
The MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) on Wednesday registered as a regional political party before the Commission on Elections. The petition was signed by UBJP president Yasser Ebrahim. The move came three months after the Mamasapano operation, which is said to have jeopardized the peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF.
READ: Marcos: BBL stalls until there’s ‘complete picture’ of Mamasapano incident
Valte also dismissed those questioning the appointment of Sheriff Abbas, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Igbal’s nephew, as Comelec commissioner.
She said that information has been made available to them during the vetting process for the position.
“What some people are trying to imply is that it was influenced by the MILF, which it was not, because you can see also that si Commissioner Abbas was already in government,” she said.
READ: New Comelec commissioner is Iqbal nephew
Valte pointed out that “most of [Abbas’] professional life has been spent in government.” He was with the Civil Service Commission before being appointed. IDL