Bacani Allays Fears Against the Formulation of Bangsamoro Gov’t

Government peace panel member Senen Bacani has mitigates fears of Mindanao residents that the envisioned Bangsamoro government will lead to the establishment of an Islamic state in Mindanao and that Christians would lose their lands to Muslims once the new region is in place.

“The Bangsamoro will be part of the Philippines, it will not separate from the Philippines. Bangsamoro officials will report to the President of the Philippines. The laws of the Philippines will apply to the Bangsamoro,” Bacani said.

Bacani visited Wao town in Lanao del Sur on Monday for a public forum on the Bangsamoro attended by an estimated 3,000 residents, including those from the nearby town of Bumbaran, also in Lanao del Sur.

The public forum was held to update people in the area on the developments in the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The Islamic state issue was raised through the streamers displayed in the town plaza, the venue of the dialogue.

Christians also raised concern that they would lose their lands to Muslims once the Bangsamoro is in place.

Wao town is composed of at least 80 percent Christians with a minority Muslim population.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong III graced the forum and rallied the residents to support the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the final peace deal between the government and the MILF.

Bacani reiterated that the GPH peace panel signed the CAB with their MILF counterpart clearly following the instruction of President Benigno Aquino III that it must be within the parameters of the Constitution.

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