President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s recent selections to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) have drawn grave criticism from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which claims that the appointments might be in violation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
An editorial detailing the appointments' political and legal ramifications was posted on Monday by the MILF's Committee on Information's official website, The Luwaran.
The BOL's clause that the MILF should head the BTA—a position gained over years of hardship and compromise—is highlighted in the editorial.
Disregarding the BOL
The editorial contends that President Marcos disregarded the agreement supporting the BOL and undermined the legitimacy of the MILF's leadership during the transition by appointing people who were not formally approved by the MILF, such as Abdulraof Macacua, the new interim chief minister.
The editorial goes on to say that the action would jeopardize the progress made toward a lasting peace in Mindanao and weaken the Bangsamoro transition's stability by giving spoilers more confidence.
The editorial ends by cautioning that failure to uphold the government's obligations under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the BOL could reverse years of progress and destabilize the area.
Indicating serious concerns
The publication of the editorial emphasizes the possibility of political unrest and instability in the area and expresses the MILF's grave concerns regarding the recent appointments.
The MILF has also hinted that it would look into diplomatic and legal options to contest the nominations.
