Philippines: Candidates to be quizzed on peace process

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines

A series of forums will be launched Tuesday to ascertain the stance and sentiment of candidates running for congressional seats on the peace process between the Philippines government and the country's one time largest Muslim rebel group.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said in a statement that the undertaking is part of efforts to secure the commitment of candidates for the continuity of the Bangsamoro peace process in the next administration and the next Congress.

It added that the process had made significant progress over the last year with the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the law that would set the creation of the Bangsamoro Entity, an expanded autonomous Muslim region in the Philippines south.

The outgoing Congress however failed to approve the BBL, sparking outrage from peace partners the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The forum-series -- to be held in key cities across the country -- seeks to understand the stance and platforms of congressional candidates, particularly on the process and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) -- signed ahead of the BBL -- as well as sentiment or positions on the refiling of the BBL in the next Congress.

The first leg of the forums -- initiated by the OPAPP and the Philippine Information Agency -- will be held in Cagayan de Oro City in northern Mindanao on April 5.

On May 9, Filipinos will elect a new president, senators and new members of the House of Representatives.

Peace negotiators from both the Philippines government and the MILF will be attending the forums to provide information and clarify any issues.

All questions, which will be on the Bangsamoro peace process in general, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and the BBL, will be directed to the congressional candidates.

Sectoral representatives are also invited as panel members who can direct questions to the candidates.

The first forum in Cagayan de Oro City will be attended by House Representatives candidates Lourdes Candy Darimbang, Ramon G. Tabor; Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr., Edgar S. Cabanlas; and Evangeline T. Carrasco.

Other forums will be held in Legazpi City on April 19; Davao City on April 22; and Cebu City on April 28.