Peace panel to make sure PH won’t end up like Colombia

A government peace panel chair on Monday said the reconstitution of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), a body tasked to propose provisions for a new Bangsamoro Basic Law, will ensure that Philippines will not go the way of Colombia.

Colombian voters last month rejected, through a referendum, the government’s historic peace deal with FARC rebels.

READ: Colombia voters nix peace deal, shock gov’t — results

Irene Santiago, chair of the Government Implementing Panel for the Bangsamoro Peace Accords, told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview that it is an example of why the Duterte administration should work hard to make the Bangsamoro agreement the people’s accord, which was originally more inclusive.

“If you look at the Colombia peace process…after all these years and the people reject(ed) it because the people don’t feel that it’s their agreement,” she said. “We want the people to feel this is their agreement.”

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign on Monday afternoon a new executive order reconstituting and expanding the BTC.

This is in accordance with the decision of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) implementing panels to increase the commission’s membership from 15 to 21. Of the 21 seats, 11 will be allocated to the MILF and 10 will be for the government.

“We’re trying to make it as diverse as we can,” Santiago said.

“It will be composed of people who are known to listen to many voices. That’s the kind of diversity that you want,” she added.

Santiago said it will pave the way for a broader framework that focuses on making peace in Mindanao last.

She said this is also why the government has been engaging the Moro National Liberation Front and its leader Nur Misuari, who recently received a six-month reprieve from arrest arising from cases related to the Zamboanga City siege in 2013.

READ: Duterte: What is wrong with talking to Misuari?

“We’re looking at the 1996 agreement and what still needs to be implemented,” Santiago said, referring to the 1996 Final Agreement with the MNLF.

The MNLF is one of the groups that have questioned the inclusivity of the government’s peace process with the MILF, which was once its breakaway group.

READ: MNLF sees betrayal of 1996 peace pact

Santiago said the new BTC aims to finish its draft proposal by mid-2017. “Those will be sent to Congress so they can pass an enabling law,” she said.

She said she is optimistic that a law implementing the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro will finally be passed after being stalled in Congress during the last administration.

She said Duterte has “bold and creative leadership” that previous presidents did not have. “Then you have now the MILF and MNLF on board and then getting the people involved. You have all the elements that are critical in making peace.” RAM/rga

READ: Congress adjourns, fails to pass BBL

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