Bangsamoro leaders start 4-day confab

AS THE four-day assembly of the Bangsamoro leaders started Friday, thousands of participants arrived at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao Friday.

In a statement, Von Al Haq, Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) spokesperson, said the Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCHs), International Monitoring Team (IMT) and GPH – MILF Adhoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) facilitated the movement of thousands of participants from all over Maguindanao and Cotabato provinces.

Al Haq said the leaders of MILF lauded the government and IMT for its cooperation and assistance in the four-day holding of Bangsamoro Leaders Assembly, which officially started Friday until Monday.

Officials of the IMT, MILF Commanders, GPH CCCH, AHJAG, the Philippine Army, police and the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinHRAC) escorted the convoys in going to Camp Darapanan to ensure smooth and secure passage of participants.

MinHRAC, a member of the civilian protection component of IMT, was requested by the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel to provide legal and coordination assistance for the Bangsamoro Leaders Assembly.

Participants from Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga Peninsula, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan also started their travel Friday going to Maguindanao for the assembly.

The leaders of the said assembly are expecting around 500,000 participants from all over Mindanao, Manila and the international communities.

The Bangsamoro Leaders Assembly is a major part of the continuing advocacy, dialogues and consultations conducted by MILF to strengthen unity, solidarity and cooperation among Bangsamoro people towards the attainment of self-determination.