Duterte OKs proposed EO on normalization process in Bangsamoro

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally at the Plaza Independencia in Cebu City on February 24, 2019. ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte approved a proposed executive order (EO) on the implementation of the annex on normalization under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, Malacañang bared on Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte approved the EO during the 35th Cabinet meeting held in Malacañan Palace on Monday (March 4) night.

“The Chief Executive during the same Cabinet meeting approved the proposed Executive Order on the Implementation of the Annex on the Normalization under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),” Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo did not give further details but emphasized that the MILF has allowed itself to be subjected to the process.

The annex on normalization is one of the annexes signed between the Philippine government and the MILF on Jan 25, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Under the annex on normalization, “the MILF shall undertake a graduated program for decommissioning of its forces so that they are put beyond use”.

It also involves a plan for “the disbandment of private armed groups” as part of the normalization process.

Duterte’s approval of the EO comes after the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which creates a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) that has more power to govern itself.

It also comes after Duterte named members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) which will govern the newly-established BARMM until elections in 2022.