Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process,Secretary Carlito G. Galvez in a media briefing said Lagdameo together with Interior Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. also informed the group that President Marcos might attend the inauguration of the new BTA members during the Sept. 15 inaugural session.
Galvez however said it would be theoffice of the president that will make the announcement. “I don’t want topreempt his announcement ang sa amin lang we will prepare because we were given guidance by Sec. Lagdameo to prepare for the Sept. 15 inauguration,” he said.
“ Tuwa tuwa nga sina Murad and Iqbal sincethis is symbolic, itong mangyayari sa 15 na ang President nandoon sa Bangsamoro, most likely this will be his first visit in BARMM after his SONA,”Galvez said.
Galvez described the event as “social meeting” wherein Lagdameo gave directly the guidelines of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. for the implementation of the Bangsamoro Parliament and other issues relevant to the new government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
He also said the BTA officials thanked Lagdameo for giving time to meet them despite his hectic schedules.
Galvez said Pres. Marcos wants to see peace and development will be fully achieved in Mindanao which is why he is focused and supportive to the BARMM.
A month after assuming office, Pres. Marcos has named the new 80 members of the BTA. The majority of them are lawyers, lawyer-certified public accountants, engineers, teachers, doctors, architects, media practitioners, politicians, former elected officials at the local levels, and government bureaucrats. They are the representatives from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi, as well as members of the Bangsamoro community in North Cotabato, indigenous peoples who are not Moro, the Kalagan or Kagan community in Davao Oriental, and Christian or settler communities in Davao City and Cotabato City.
Member of Parliament Mohagher Iqbalwho is also the BARRMM education minister and chairman of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel in an interview said they are optimistic Pres. Marcos will attend the inaugural session. “We are hoping the president will come although I cannot discuss the details di pa natin pwede sabihin 100 percent alam nating ang president maraming commitment but we have request coming from our side na kung pwede ang president to be present in this very important inauguration of the parliament,” Iqbal said.
Security for the Sept. 15 inaugural session
Galvez said the BTA has assured to make all the necessary security preparations for the coming of the president.
“ Sir maghahanda talaga kami” tinngnan namingwith limit of security ay talagang gagawan nila ng preparations ang pagdatingng president, “ Galvez quoted Iqbal.
Galvez said he already called the 6thDivision of the Philippine Army to coordinate with the PSG. Normally, it is the Implementing panel who takes charge of the security.
Non-confirmation from MNLF chair Misuari
Galvez confirmed he didn’t talk with MNLFChairman Nur Misuari regarding his attendance at the inauguration.
He however said Misuari and Murad are talking recently, saying he doesn’t want to interfere in their talks.
“Si chairman Nur may pinagusapan sila ni Murad, Idon’t want to interfere gusto naming sila ang kusang mag karoon ng engagement regarding their reconciliation. Hindi naming gusting I preempt. It will happen,” Galvez said.
Specific directives of President Marcos
Galvez said Sec. Lagdameo relayed during the meeting the specific directives of President Marcos on four important issues. First, to finish all the basic laws such as the local govt code, electoral code, revenue code and indigenous code. Second is to make sure thereis performance. Third, resources should be properly distributed to provinces, cities, and barangays, and fourth, is for the BTA to work double time toproduce results before the transition period ends in 2025. “The president said three years is so fast and it is important to be able to provide enough services,” Galvez said.
He said Lagdameo also relayed to the group the President’s directive to accomplish all the programs that should be accomplished by the BTA including the codes that should be finished in due time, and also preparation for the 2025 regional elections.
The BTA is tasked to produce results that will address a variety of challenges, including peace and security concerns, poverty reduction, business and job creation, and stability between ethnic clans and economic classes, among others.
It was learned that the BTA was scheduled to end on June 30, but Congress decided to push back the regional elections until 2025, adding three more years to the BTA.
Iqbal for his part said there was a meeting of the minds during the Saturday meeting to overcome all issues especially on the legislations on local government code, electoral code, revenue code and indigenous code which he said are all in the pipeline for the new BTA parliament.
Integration of MILF, MNLF in PNP
Galvez said the BTA officials thanked Lagdameo for assuring to help the DILG led by Abalos on the pending issue of integration of the MILF and MNLF members in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Galvez confirmed they had discussed the details during the meeting but declined to disclose and elaborate about the matter. “We discussed the details but I cannot elaborate on details. kasi may mga discussions pa regarding sa funding and quota na ibigay ngayong taon,” he said.
Iqbal also confirmed the constitution of the Bangsamoro police was also discussed but like Galvez, he declined to give details on the agreement saying the matter will have to be discussed with the National Police Commission and BARMM officials in the next scheduled meetings.
“To constitute the BARMM police is in accordance with the provision of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) wherein members of the MILF and MNLF shall become part of the Philippine National Police,” he said.
He also said there are details but he cannot disclose pending the ongoing discussions. “Nothing is final yet,” he added.
Meanwhile, Abalos described the meeting as “very light”.
He said President Marcos wants to show unity after elections regardless of political beliefs and colors. “The president said the election has ended. Let us now focus on the economy, focus on peace andcontinue the peace so the country could rise again,” he said.
Present during the meeting:
BTA officials: Ibrahim, Iqbal, MP Eduardo Guerra,and Atty. Sha Elija Dumama-Alba
OSAP: Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo, Jr. , Undersecretary to SAP Atty. Joahna Paula Q. Domingo, Assistant Secretary (Asec) Ria Danielle A. Lumapas, Asec. Alnessa TheaR. Uy, and Dir. Luisito Emmanuel G. Rabat.
DILG: Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Usec Fred Bayan,Romeo Ropal Barantes Po, Darrel Melgar, and Melgar Roger Ho
OPAPRU: Secretary Carlito Galvez, Asec Wilben M. Mayor, and Dir. FarrahGrace V. Naparan. Judy Quiros/Photos from the Office of the Special Assistant to the President -Office of thePresident
CLOSEDOOR MEETING. (L-R) Presidential Adviser for Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez., Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo, Jr. Local and Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr., Undersecretary to the Special Assistant to the President Atty. Joahna Paula Q. Domingo, Undersecretary Fred Bayan, DILG USec for Mindanao Affairs, and Leo Magno, Parallel Group Patron in the May2022 Elections. Member of Parliament(MP) Mohagher Iqbal, Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, and MP Edward Guerra.
Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio and Ernesto F. Lagdameo, Jr. Local and Interior and Loca lGovernment Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr.,at the meeting with Bangsamoro Transition Authority officials held at 2/f Presidential Guest House at DPWH building in Panacan, Davao City.
SAP Secretary Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo, Jr. chats with the BTA officials shortly after the closedoor meeting.