Launching of awaited BTA next week very likely

COTABATO CITY --- President Rodrigo Duterte is likely to launch the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) on February 21, officials hinted on Thursday.The BTA will oversee the transition from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to the incoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM.Senior government officials said Thursday preparations are now underway for next week’s symbolic launching of the BTA in Malacañang.The BTA will oversee the operation of BARMM, a product of more than 20 years of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, pending the election of its pioneering set of officials.The North Cotabato provincial peace and order council, or PPOC, passed the other day a resolution recommending inclusion into the BTA of Kelly Antao, a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.Antao campaigned extensively for the inclusion of the more than 20 barangays in the province into the BARMM via the February 6 plebiscite in seven North Cotabato towns.Antao was also instrumental in the settlement in recent years of dozens of family feuds involving Moro clans and in resolving security issues involving local Moro rebels and state forces in conflict flashpoint areas. Our PPOC has an approved resolution towards that goal, North Cotabato Vice Gov. Shirlyn Macasarte-Villanueva said Thursday morning.The BTA shall be comprised of representatives from the MILF and the government, among them officials of the now outgoing ARMM.The figurehead of the MILF, Hadji Murad Ebrahim, shall lead the BTA, to include other officials of their central committee.Residents of Lamitan City are urging Murad, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr., and Duterte to consider designating one from them as BTA member.Christian residents in Lamitan City, the capital of Basilan province, voted for BOL’s ratification during the January 21 plebiscite in all of ARMM’s five provinces.The ARMM also covers Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.Local officials said community leaders in Lamitan City want their Sangguniang Panglunsod to pass a resolution urging Malacañang, the MILF and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to consider their desire to have a representative to the BTA.Lamitan City Vice Mayor Roderick Furigay confirmed on Thursday the clamors of the 45 barangay chairman.Christian barangay officials in Lamitan City told reporters senior MILF officials have assured them of representation in the BTA during their plebiscite campaign sorties in the city.Furigay said Muslim and Christian barangay captains in Lamitan City were together in campaigning for an affirmative vote for the BOL, resulting in an overwhelming approval of the measure by local voters during the January 21 plebiscite. But just the same, we submit to the wisdom to the MILF and the wise decision on that matter by Chairman Murad, President Duterte and the OPAPP, Furigay said.