COTABATO CITY – Muslims in southern Philippines are backing the governor of Sulu province, Sakur Tan, as the next chief minister of the Bangsamoro autonomous region, largely run by former rebels, ahead of the 2025 midterm polls.
This was confirmed by Amir Mawallil, a member of the regional
parliament and spokesman for the BARMM Grand Coalition, saying “the Bangsamoro
people are backing Tan because they want peace and progress in the region that
will benefit not only the Muslims but even the Christians and indigenous
communities.”
“And we welcome this great development for the future of the
Bangsamoro (region) and its people. It’s time to change and change is coming
for good, for everyone aspiring for peace in Mindanao, in the country,” he
added.
Tan is
the chairman of the Salaam Party endorsed by BARMM Grand Coalition composed of
the Bangsamoro People Party, the Al Ittihad-UKB Party and the Serbisyong
Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo Party, to run against Chief Minister Ahod
Ebrahim, chieftain of the former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front
which signed a peace deal with Manila in 2014.
Tan
thanked the officials and members of the coalition, saying that he appreciated
the confidence granted to him by the members of the BARMM local governments. “Iisa
ang ating adhikain: ang isang mapayapa, maunlad at masaganang Bangsamoro region
na may paggalang sa karapatan ng lahat ng sektor na bibigyan ng boses sa
pamahalaan,” he said.
Alliance
The grand
coalition - which Salaam Party is also part of - was formed earlier this year
when leaders of the four major political parties in BARMM met and agreed to
form an alliance that would push the principles of peace and unity.
Mawallil said through public consultations with stakeholders
and constituents, the grand coalition has become a regionwide alliance where
the Salaam Party along with the Al-Ittihad Party led by former Sultan Kudarat
Governor Suharto Mangudadatu and Maguindanao del Sur Governor Bai Mariam
Sangki-Mangudadatu; the Bangsamoro Peoples Party led by Basilan Rep. Mujiv
Hataman, and the Serbisyong Inklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo Party led by Lanao
del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong.
Tan also reiterated his calls for peace and unity, and
progress in the BARMM and thanked those supporting him and the aspirations of
the grand coalition.
Peace deals
Together, he said, the grand coalition is committed to working
with the national government in pursuing policies and programs needed to
protect the peace that the Bangsamoro people have won in the region, starting
with the full implementation of all signed peace agreements, including the Moro
National Liberation Front under Nur Misuari who signed a peace accord with the
government in 1996.
Tan said the grand coalition has committed to allocate funds
from the BARMM Special Development Fund and Block Grant to support and expedite
the normalization process for former combatants of both the MNLF and MILF.
“The most important thing is to assure that our former
combatants can feel the fruits of their struggle with the support of the
regional and national governments, as their quality of life improves along with
the enjoyment of just and lasting peace in the region. This is only possible
through collaborative governance that encourages a multi-party, multi-sectoral
approach to leadership, and the BGC is more than ready to lead the way,” he
said.
“The peace agreements that were signed between the two Moro
fronts and the national government have given a legacy of peace to our people
and the world. The BARMM is a strong testament to how a longstanding conflict
can be transformed into an enduring peace, and how communities can continue
working together in sustaining said peace through efforts to uphold justice for
all,” he added.
Sources from the MILF claimed that many former rebels were
disillusioned after being left out by Ebrahim to fend for themselves. “Daming disillusioned
kay Chairman Murad, parang kanya-kanyang survival na lang ang diskarte ng mga dating
rebelde. Kulang sa suporta mula sa BARMM, mula kay Chairman at sa mga kasamahan
niya. Sila ang nakikinabang sa gobyerno at ang mga ex-(MILF) members ay gutom,”
one source said.
Other sources aired similar dissatisfaction of many MILF
members. (Mindanao Examiner)
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