Lanao del Sur group wants out from Bangsamoro

MANILA, Philippines - Hours before the historical Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro is signed by government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front leaders, a  group in Lanao del Sur wants to be excluded from  the Bangsamoro entity.

Likho-Wao chairperson Edna Espinosa said their group will submit an appeal to the government to exclude Wao municipality from becoming part of the Bangsamoro, noting that residents in the area are mostly Christians.

She said that though they are not opposed to the creation of the Bangsamoro entity, they would not want to be covered by the Shariah Law.

"We are not against the creation of Bangsamoro entity because we are not Muslim. We are Christians. We are against it for two reasons in partikular yung rido and then yung batas ng Muslim yung Sharia law. Kasi sa nabasa namin hindi siya fitted sa aming mga Christians. Personally para sa akin very oppressive," Espinosa told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

Wao municipality is currently composed of 26 villages, with over 40,000 people based on the 2010 census.