|
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Ex-senator bares 'secret pact' with Moro rebels
MANILA -- Former senator Francisco Tatad asked the Arroyo administration Saturday to explain the alleged agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the establishment of a Bangsamoro Federal state.
Tatad said the alleged secret concord was reportedly signed last September 16 by Professor Rudy Rodil of the Philippine Government panel's technical working group and Attorney Musib Buat of the MILF panel's technical working group.
A joint statement on the agreement was reportedly signed by Secretary Silvetre Afable, chairman of the government peace panel, and Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF peace panel, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
He questioned the agreement, which showed that the Bangsamoro Federal State is separate and distinct from the existing Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
"How can they possibly enter into an agreement? The government should explain this because this is an issue of territorial sovereignty," the former senator said.
Tatad said it is only Congress that has the sole power to enact revenue generation-measures and the General Appropriations Act or the national budget and not any local government.
He said based on the consensus point that was agreed upon by the government and the MILF, the Bangsamoro state is empowered to legislate and administer revenue-generating measures through taxation, public borrowings, licensing and income from government investments.
The grant of authority to the Bangsamoro juridical entity in creating its own tax base, rates, customs duties and collections shall be provided in the comprehensive compact, Tatad quoted the agreement as saying.
Aside from this, Tatad also said the parties agreed to allow the Bangsamoro build, develop and maintain institutions such as civil; electoral; financial and banking; education; legislation; legal; economic; police; judicial system and correctional, necessary for developing Bangsamoro society.
The government and MILF panels agreed to grant the state with powers over budgeting and allocating of funds for government functions, development and public service.
With these powers, Tatad said the Bangsamoro "is totally separated from the government".
"I think it is completely separate government. This is what I believe. The government should define the ancestral domain," Tatad added.
Earlier, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said rebel and government negotiators are expected to resume the peace talks after Ramadhan, Islam's holiest month, to discuss contentious issues centered on the ancestral domain.
Kabalu said both sides have already agreed on several important matters on ancestral domain--its concept, territories and resources, and will negotiate about how the MILF shall govern these places.
"The ancestral domain is the single most important issue in the peace negotiations before the MILF can reach a political settlement," he said.
Ancestral domain refers to the MILF demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland.
He said government and rebel peace negotiators agreed on several crucial issues, including the coverage of a proposed ancestral domain in the five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, and other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes.
Kabalu said the MILF is willing to compromise if only to arrive at an acceptable, reasonable and comprehensive agreement that would include not only the Muslims, but all ethnic groups in Mindanao.
At least 18 non-Muslim tribal groups live in the southern Philippines--the Ata, Bagobo, Banwaon, B'laan, Bukidnon, Dibabawon, Higaunon, Kalagan, Mamanwa, Mandaya, Mangguwangan, Manobo, Mansaka, Subanen, Tagakaolo, Teduray, T'boli and the Ubo.
Once an agreement is reached on how the MILF would govern these areas, Kabalu said government and rebel peace negotiators would finally discuss the political settlement of the country's longest-running Muslim insurgency problem.
The MILF has been fighting for independence since it split with the MNLF in 1978, but Manila said it would not allow the country to be dismembered.
Manila signed a truce with the MILF in 2002; however, sporadic skirmishes between security and rebel forces continue in the south with both sides accusing each other of violating the fragile truce. (Sunnex)
(October 23, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
