PRRD asks Bangsamoro to vote for BOL, reject violent extremism

COTABATO CITY – President Duterte on Friday rallied the people of Cotabato City and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to vote for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and to stand up against violent extremism espoused by Islamic militants. Minamahal kong mga Moro brothers and sisters, let us vote yes for BOL, he said in a speech during the peace assembly for the ratification of Republic Act 11054 or BOL at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) inside the ARMM compound Friday. We must stand together against ISIS because they know nothing but to kill, he told the crowd of about 500 government servants and ARMM officials and more than 5,000 Bangsamoro people outside the cultural complex.He also rejected the idea of talking peace with the Abu Sayyaf Group, an IS linked Moro rebels operating in the ARMM provinces. I will never, never talk with the Abu Sayyaf, Duterte said, a turn-around from his stamen in July last year where he entertained the idea of talking with the ASG to end the Mindanao conflict.In his speech, Duterte saidand You do not kill an eight-year-old boy because no ransom was paid. Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, the MILF chair, repeatedly lauded President Duterte. We noticed that you are always on our side to see to it that the will of the people is heard, Murad told Pres. Duterte. If you did not become President, we would have no BOL, we would have no Bangsamoro government, Murad said.While Duterte was talking to pro-BOL supporters at ARMM compound, including his cabinet members, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), officials, about 3,000 red-shirt wearing members of MNLF gathered at the Cotabato City Hall, about 800 meters away from ARMM compound, expressing their full support to Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi in opposing the inclusion of Cotabato City to BARMM.They carry the MNLF red flag and chantedand We are for federalism. Sam Mundas, an official of Cotabato City LGU, said the MNLF voluntarily showed up at the city hall to express opposition to BOL and inclusion of Cotabato City to BARMM.The BOL will determine the composition of new political entity that will replace the current ARMM government. It will be good for Cotabato City to be outside the BARMM, Mundas told reporters. (EOF)