Government, MNLF agree to amend ARMM law to expand coverage

MANILA, Philippines - The joint legal panel of the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is seeking to amend Republic Act 9054 to expand the coverage of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Quintos-Deles said yesterday.

Deles said former MNLF chairman and former ARMM governor Nur Misuari and Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento led the drafting of an amendatory bill to RA 9054 that provides for the expansion of the ARMM’s territorial coverage.

She said members of the legal panel have agreed on the amendments to make the ARMM law more reflective of Moro sentiments.

“It (legal panel) was able to resolve majority of the 32 issues that surfaced, with only three items in which both sides have not reached common ground. These include issues regarding area of autonomy; sharing of revenues between central government and regional government in strategic minerals; and transitional mechanism,” Deles said.

Deles said the legal panel’s draft bill and report were initialed by the joint secretariat last Saturday at the Indonesian embassy, and will be presented in the fourth tripartite meeting.

Deles lauded members of the legal panel for sharing their “effort and expertise” for a “more satisfactory implementation” of the 1996 final peace agreement.

Almost 22 months to date from the third tripartite meeting, Deles said she was glad that the legal panel “has found such common grounds and transformed to legal form the common proposals and common grounds.”

Deles thanked the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), particularly the Peace Committee on Southern Philippines and its member-states, for their support to the endeavor.  

“Such concern, attention and effort definitely and concretely contribute to the establishment and nourishment of an enabling environment for the sustained peace and development in Southern Philippines,” she said.

Deles also thanked the Indonesian embassy for hosting the meetings of the legal panel.

The legal panel was formed based on the agreement during the third tripartite meeting among the OIC, the government and MNLF on March 13, 2009.

The panel has been tasked to transform the common proposals of the two parties into legal form and arrive at common grounds on the issues for further study.

The legal panel held meetings to review proposed amendments to RA 9054, and discuss other items for further study such as the setting up of the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund and the tripartite monitoring of the implementation of the peace pact.