The three-year period for the postponement of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections is sufficient for an organized transition period in the region.
This was the statement of Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo in the Nov. 1 Laging Handa briefing following President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval to move the elections from 2022 to 2025.
“Marami pang bagay ang hindi naisasakatuparan doon sa pinirmahan nating Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. Una ay kailangan natin na talagang mapagtibay iyong institutions of government sa BARMM,” he said.
The minister said around 14,000 MILF combatants have yet to be decommissioned before the year ends, while 12,145 have already been decommissioned. These are part of the 40,000 combatants up for decommissioning.
“Sa tantiya natin, makukumpleto natin iyong implementation ng peace agreement, titibay na ang pundasyon ng ating gobyerno; at iyong recovery natin in terms of development at saka economy ay matibay na sa loob ng tatlong taon na iyon,” he said.
Sinarimbo said the recruitment of employees for the local government and infrastructure projects are ongoing. However, the economic recovery from pandemic and siege remains a challenge for BARMM.
Election code
The BARMM election code is awaiting the approval of the cabinet before its transmittal to the parliament as a proposal of the government of the day.
“Nagiging isyu kung paano ba ma-reflect na iyong mga uupo galing sa kanila ay tunay na representative noong mga sectors na ito,” he said, amid ongoing cabinet debates on provisions pertaining to the representation of sectors.
“‘Kung ang boboto ay ang lahat noong eligible voters, samantalang kakaunti lang itong sector na ito, baka po ma-overwhelm at ang lalabas pa rin ay iyong will ng majority, hindi po ng mga sectors na iyon,” he said.
Peace agreement
The official said there have been no large scale wars in Mindanao since the establishment of peace agreement and the Bangsamoro government.
He also appealed to the next country’s leader to continue the implementation of the peace agreement, saying that development was held back due to the focus on internal conflict resolution.
“Pakiramdam po natin ay okay naman po iyong continuity noong services at saka noong institutions maski na po mag-appoint si Pangulo noong mga panibagong miyembro noong BTA [Bangsamoro Transition Authority].” – Report from Kenneth Paciente/AG-rir
Watch the full interview here:
