Some MILF Members Are Disappointed With President’s SONA

MARAWI CITY –  Some MILF members are dissatisfied that the President did not talk more about Bangsamoro issues on his SONA. On Monday, five young Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels gathered around a small TV set to watch the State of the Nation Address by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

The MILF rebels covered their faces as they showed the journalists and were eager to watch the SONA as they are looking forward to hear the President’s statement regarding the status of Bangsamore.

They fell silent as soon as they saw President Aquino walking in the plenary hall of Congress to start his talk on the state of the nation.Abdul Usman, who the their group leader told them to stay silent and keep quiet as the President started his speech. Holding  their firearms, the rebels watched President Aquino deliver his State of the Nation Address until it came to the part about the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

The President said he liked Congress to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before this year ends to allow the change to be implemented in the last one year and a half of his term. After his words, he did not give further statement about Bangsamoro.

After hearing Aquino’s devoted two paragraphs of his speech on the proposed law and a press statement from Malacañang released on July 27 young rebels looked at each other, obviously disappointed that President Aquino did not give much of his speech on the Bangsamoro issue.

Usman said many young MILF members wanted that the Bangsamoro problem will end so soon so they can move on with their lives.He said they are worried after they were told by their leadership about the unsettled issues in the draft.But civil society groups are hopeful that President Aquino can deliver his promise to end the war in the most part of Mindanao.

Ryan Rosauro, secretary general of the Mindanao People’s Caucus, said the President’s speech “speak volumes” despite being short as the President  expected Congress will pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the year ends.He said Aquino also set a schedule for the transition to start early next year.

Zabria Muti-Mapandi, executive of the Al-Mujadilah Development Foundation, said she too was satisfied with President Aquino’s speech, as the President has given his speech in a just, right acceptable way to all the participants.