Papers, Newsletters, Reports & StatementsPCID Statement on the Transition Commission
The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy lauds the appointment of the members of the Transition Commission of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which is tasked with the drafting of the Basic Law as envisioned in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) signed last October 15, 2012. The Basic Law will set up the new autonomous political entity called “Bangsamoro” by June 30, 2016.
The TransCom will be chaired by MILF peace panel chair MohagherIqbal. The seven (7) members representing government are Akmad A. Sakkam, Johaira C. Wahab, Talib A. Benito, Asani S. Tammang, Pedrito A. Eisma, Froilyn T. Mendoza and Fatmawati T. Salapuddin. The members representing the MILF are Iqbal, MaulanaAlonto, AbdullahCamlian, Ibrahim D. Ali, Raissa H. Jajurie, Melanio U. Ulama, Hussein P. Munoz and Said M. Shiek.
PCID congratulates the Government and the MILF for ensuring the representation of women, thru Wahab, Mendoza and Salapuddin (GPH) and Jajurie (MILF). We also applaud the representation for the Indigenous peoples thru Mendoza from the GPH and Ulama from the MILF.
PCID notes, however, that Tawi-Tawi has no official representation in the TransCom considering that the domain of the New Political Entity will be the Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, it is unfortunate that Tawi-Tawi has no representation. It is however hoped that genuine consultations on all stakeholders will be undertaken by the Commission in the disposition of its tasks to reach at the most inclusive formula.
As the 15-member Transition Commission prepares to draft the Basic Law, which is still subject to the awaited FAB Annexes on power-sharing and wealth-sharing due to be completed by March 2013, PCID hopes that attention will be given to issues concerning the expansion and independence of the Shari’ah legal system. PCID urges that attention be given to fiscal autonomy and the need to develop policies to establish the foundation for Shari’ah-compliant business and investments to flourish within the Bangsamoro.