BARMM leaders buck Duterte’s secession call

MANILA, Philippines — Leaders of different sectors in the Bangsamoro region yesterday rejected former president Rodrigo Duterte’s call for Mindanao independence, asserting that they will never ruin the gains of their peace process with the national government.

Earlier this week, Duterte announced in Davao City that local groups are to fuse ranks and work out Mindanao’s independence.

Members of the 80-seat parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) declared that they value Malacañang’s separate peace compacts with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

BARMM chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim expressed yesterday his full support for the Marcos administration, as he called on the Filipino people to protect the gains of the peace process.

“As chief minister of the Bangsamoro government, I stand firmly on adhering to the faithful implementation of the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro towards the right to self-determination,” Ebrahim said.

“We, therefore, urge everyone to help protect the gains of the peace processes. Let us continue to support the current administration and allow peace and civility to reign over the affairs of our land,” he said.   

The figurehead of the Regional Development Council 12 and the MNLF also agreed on Thursday to continue fostering peace and sustainable development together in areas where there are MNLF strongholds covered by its Sept. 2, 1996 final truce with Malacañang.

Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño Mendoza and the MNLF’s vice chairman for political affairs, Bangsamoro parliament member Romeo Sema, also agreed to expand cooperation on activities complementing the efforts of the Bangsamoro regional government to address poverty and underdevelopment besetting the Moro community caused by decades of armed conflict.

Mendoza and Sema discussed expansion of her administration and the front’s socio-economic programs in the 63 BARMM barangays in different towns in Cotabato province.

Mendoza said she will also use her influence as governor and RDC 12 chairperson in helping ensure the smooth implementation of the programs of the Ministry of Labor and