2008-07-17 14:50:18 -
Piņol opposes proposal to include North Cotabato to Moro Islamic Liberation Force entity
By Malu C. Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY www.balitapinoy.net
North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piņol has expressed opposition to inclusion of the province to the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity as proposed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in its ongoing peace talks with the government.
The proposal, according to Piņol, includes Central Mindanao region and towns of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, and Tangkal in Lanao del
Norte that voted "yes" in the 2001 plebiscite regarding the expansion of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
He said two towns in Davao del Norte and two others in Palawan are also being eyed by the MILF for inclusion to their proposed Bangsamoro entity.
The expanded ARMM is composed of the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, and the provinces of Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi and Lanao del Sur.
Piņol said the information he got is contained in a draft agreement on ancestral domain claim by the MILF that was signed in October by the government and MILF peace brokers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The vice governor has provided to members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan - which he chairs - copies of the draft agreement during their regular session held Tuesday at the provincial capitol compound.
Piņol authored SP Resolution No. 143 expressing his vehement opposition to the inclusion of North Cotabato and areas within its political jurisdiction in the proposed plebiscite to determine the territories of the Bangsamoro homeland.
According to him, the plebiscite will come six months after the signing this October of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the government and MILF in Malaysia.
"The people of North Cotabato had already spoken in 2001 when 90 percent of our people opposed the inclusion of the province to the ARMM,' Piņol said.
The vice governor said copies of the draft agreement that he obtained from 'highly reliable sources' reportedly contain provisions that defined the coverage area of proposed MILF territory.
'Proper consultation should be initiated with us even before proposing that North Cotabato be included in the Bangsamoro homeland,' he said.
Moreover, the vice governor passed another resolution urging North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan to seek legal redress over the GRP-MILF proposal.
Earlier, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon visited the province to kick off an information drive over the proposed MILF territory in Mindanao.
He clarified before provincial officials that a plebiscite would be scheduled following the information campaign on areas that are being eyed by the MILF for inclusion in their proposed homeland.
(Balita Pinoy - Philippine News & Analysis)
