Maranao officials to go for ‘Yes’ in BOL
CAMP DARAPANAN, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao: Lanao del Sur officials have assured to help campaign for an overwhelming “Yes Vote” during the plebiscite being called for the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Vice Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr., led 35 mayors from Lanao del Sur in handing over to Alhaj Murad Ebrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee, a manifesto indicating their recognition of the BOL as a viable solution to the southern secessionist conflict.
The BOL, a product of 19 years of peace talks between the government and the MILF, shall supersede Republic Act 9050, the charter of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) also known as the Organic Act for Muslim Mindanao.
Adiong and the local chief executives also discussed peace and security concerns with Murad at the MILF’s main office in Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
The gesture of the Maranao officials disproved speculations that many of them are against the BOL over apprehensions it could remove them from power once the MILF-led Bangsamoro political entity replaces the ARMM, Adiong added.
Adiong, who was governor of Lanao del Sur for three terms prior to his election as vice governor in 2016, and his political allies, Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, have been vocal in expressing support to the government-MILF peace efforts that resulted in the crafting of the BOL.
Most mayors in 116 towns of the autonomous region were silent all along.
Meanwhile, the Hataman administration is now preparing for the turnover before yearend of the ARMM government to the Bangsamoro Tran- sition Authority.
The ARMM presently covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in mainland Mindanao, the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.
The plebiscite for the BOL shall also be held in several towns in Lanao del Sur, in Isabela City in Basilan, and in some barangay (villages) in North Cotabato and some towns of Lanao del Norte to determine if voters there would want to be under a Bangsamoro government.
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