MILF peace negotiating panel chair Mohagher Iqbal before the CAB commemoration event in Notre Dame University, Cotabato City. KRISTINE ANGELI SABILLO/INQUIRER.net
COTABATO CITY, Philippines—It has been dubbed as a “celebration” but the commemoration of the second anniversary of the historic Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) is marred by “frustrations” felt by the people, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) peace panel chair said on Monday.
“There is frustration. There is widespread frustration on the ground and that is expected,” MILF peace negotiating panel chair Mohagher Iqbal told reporters before the CAB commemoration event in Notre Dame University, Cotabato City.
“Seventeen long years of negotiation. We expect the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law) to pass Congress. It did not pass. So you can imagine, we are human [beings], especially those people involved in the negotiation,” he added. “Like me, I am frustrated. But frustration has to be managed.”
Iqbal said that there is negative reaction towards the anniversary of the CAB. “But we have to push through with the idea to commemorate the signing of the CAB rather than to just let it go,” he said.
READ: What is the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro?
He said the MILF has been “trying to manage (the) frustration” of their supporters and members.
Nevertheless, he said the group remains optimistic and is happy that the event will be held in Cotabato City.
“Still surging forward despite all the obstacles. The way is forward, not backward,” he said.
Iqbal said the way forward is not easy and he admitted that they continuously face challenges.
“We have to really overcome all these obstacles. And there is no shortcut to having peace here in Mindanao,” he said.
“The MILF will hold on to this document no matter what happens,” Iqbal said.
The continuation of the peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF was jumpstarted when President Benigno Aquino III met with MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim in Japan last August 2011. It was followed by the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and then the CAB.
The CAB paved the way for the filing of the proposed Bangamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress. However, the BBL was further stalled in Congress after the infamous Mamasapano botched operation, which left more than 60 people dead. The incident, which involved an alleged misencounter between government forces and the MILF, raised questions of trust and sincerity between the two parties.
READ: Congress adjourns, fails to pass BBL
Despite what happened, both negotiating panels look forward to the re-filing or re-drafting of the BBL through the next administration.
Iqbal said the CAB is already a document recognized by the international community. He said the next administration should recognize the CAB and follow through with the passage of the BBL, which will provide for a new Bangsamoro political entity in Mindanao.
Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chief of the Philippine government’s negotiating panel, said that while it is true that the failure to pass the BBL on time has made the people in Mindanao feel frustrated, the two parties cannot just give up.
She said a lot has been gained since the breakdown of talks in 2008 and the successful signing of agreements with the MILF.
She added there would still be a war in Mindanao if the government and the MILF did not push through with the peace process.
“Ngayon meron na naman tayong aberya pero dapat lamang ipagpatuloy nating muli. Wag tayong umatras. Umabante tayo. Wag tayong magpadala sa galit, sa awa sa sarili o sa frustration,” she explained.
(Now we are facing new challenges but we should continue. Let us not back down. Let us go forward. We should not let ourselves be affected by anger or frustration.)
Coronel-Ferrer said that the peace process with the MILF has been through many administration changes.
“The most important thing is there is that commitment, there is a constituency that will push for it, will see it through,” she said, adding that it is worth it even if it will take longer.
“One administration to another can bring about changes in policy. But the point is you don’t just drop everything. You continue what you have achieved. You push from there,” she said.
In a separate interview, Iqbal said: “We will insist also that it will begin from where it started.” RAM