Representatives from the government, civil society and business sectors converged in a peace forum to discuss the legal implications of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) held at the Kidapawan gymnasium, Kidapawan City, Cotabato on Thursday, February 21, 2013.
The Ateneo de Davao University’s Al Qalam Institute of Islamic Identities and Interreligious Dialogue (Al Qalam) joined hands with the Provincial Government of Cotabato to hold a peace forum in Kidapawan City to discuss the legal challenges, as well as the environmental implications of the FAB.
With the theme Moving forward for peace and environmental protection in Mindanao, the forum sought to emphasize the legal and environmental issues surrounding the FAB.
Datu Mussolini Sinsuat-Lidasan, Al Qalam director, said the forum was intended to shed light on the FAB and to discuss its challenges and opportunities. He added that one of the forum’s important objectives was to “identify areas of convergence for a multi-sectoral action at the community level.”
Speakers included Atty. Johaira Wahab, chief of the GPH peace panel’s legal team, who spoke about recent updates on the Mindanao peace process.
Atty. Vincent Paul Montejo, ADDU professor, discussed the legal challenges of the FAB.
Meanwhile, Prof. Abonawas Pendaliday, representative for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12/ARMM, highlighted the environmental challenges of the framework agreement.
The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro is a preliminary peace agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The FAB calls for the creation of the Bangsamoro, an autonomous political entity which would replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The FAB is hoped to lead to a final peace agreement between the GPH and the MILF, which will establish reforms in the political structure of the ARMM, as well as ensure a lasting peace in Mindanao.
The agreement was signed and sealed in the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines on October 15, 2012.