House urged to probe nationality of MILF execs

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives ad hoc committee deliberating on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) should look into allegations that Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chairman Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim and MILF peace panel chief Mohagher Iqbal are Malaysians, Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said yesterday.

Nograles, a member of the 75-member panel, said the committee must ascertain the true citizenship of Murad and Iqbal before resuming its deliberations on the BBL.

He said if the allegations of former interior secretary Rafael Alunan III were true, Congress can be held criminally liable for committing acts of treason for selling out the country’s sovereignty to foreigners.

According to Alunan, Murad and Iqbal are Malaysians. He said they travel using Malaysian passports.

“This is a very serious allegation and must be investigated immediately before we continue deliberations on the BBL,” Nograles said.

“I raise this concern because if it is true that we are writing the proposed law for Malaysians, then we in Congress will be criminally liable for treason,” he said.

The Aquino government signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro with the MILF in March last year. Part of the government’s commitment to the MILF is the passage of the BBL, which seeks to create a new autonomous region in Mindanao.

Nograles said it was good that Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has decided to extend the life of the BBL panel for another three months as this would allow lawmakers to get a better view on how the proposed law would affect the country’s national interest.

He said the panel, chaired by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, should immediately call the officials of the Bureau of Immigration and subpoena all travel documents of Murad and Iqbal.

“We are all for peace but we should achieve peace in Mindanao without sacrificing our sovereignty as one nation,” Nograles said.

Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte yesterday asked President Aquino to hear the sentiments of local leaders in Mindanao regarding the proposed BBL and Mamasapano incident.

“We have not been consulted on the BBL and other issues that concern the people of Mindanao. Malacanñang decides Mindanaoans’ fate all by themselves,” Duterte said. – With Edith Regalado, Jose Rodel Clapano