MILF to incoming investorsand ‘Go slow and never presume’

COTABATO CITY - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has advised prospective
investors in the upcoming Bangsamoro government not to hurry in pouring investments
in the envisioned new political entity.

Go slow and
never presume,” was the unsolicited advice the MILF gave to future investors,
either local or foreign investors, through the editorial of its website.

This is not
in any way to drive away investors,” it added. The MILF said the unsolicited
advice was for the protection of investors and for the interests of everybody
especially the meek, weak, and faint-hearted.”

In its
previous editorial, the MILF have forewarned companies to be careful in dealing
with prospective partners who offer vast tract of lands for pineapple, banana,
or palm oil plantations.

This region
is not yet normal. Conflicting land claims are not absent in many of its parts.
It is not wise to presume that when a company deals with powerful people,
everything is fine and in order,” the MILF’s luwaran editorial said.

There are
problems that are not seen in the open,” it said, adding that human beings when
confronted with insurmountable odds usually are dumb and deaf.

Deep inside
they have a revolting heart. In the end, they have their own special way to
vent their anger and get justice on the process,” the editorial referring to
conflicts involving armed men and businesses operating in the region.

It stressed
that except those clearly and cleanly titled, lands in the Bangsamoro are
classified as timberland, alienable and disposable, those sold to the
government under its program of voluntary offer to sell,” and those in the
category of the same scheme but most, if not all the beneficiaries, are
fictitious.

Usually in
the last category, the original owner still holds on to these lands, which they
sell willingly or otherwise to the powerful and moneyed - who are usually armed
- at a very low price,” the editorial said.

The editorial
also cited the case of Delinanas Banana Plantation in Datu Abdullah Sangki town
in Maguindanao whose owners thought of closing operations due to serious
security problem.

About three weeks
ago, unidentified gunmen ambushed a convoy of company officials, wounding the
firm’s chief security officer. A week later, masked men, armed with assault
rifles, cut hundreds of banana trees in the firm’s plantation.

At this
juncture, let it be known as a matter of policy, foreign investments, as long
as they are people and environment-friendly, are welcomed in the Bangsamoro.
For whose these blessings (rich natural resources) if not for the people’s
benefits and disposal? Without doubt, the Bangsamoro Government, once in place,
will enter into agreements with investors, whether domestic or foreign, to tap
the natural resources in this region,” it said.

Initially, the
MILF said it can start preliminary discussions or exploration for future
investment but advice prospective businessmen to wait for the Bangsamoro
Government to be in place before formalities or actual work can commence.

The envisioned
Bangsamoro government, expected to assume next year through the Bangsamoro
Transition Commission, is expected to be fully operational in 2016.

A result of 17 years
of peace negotiations between Manila and the MILF, the Bangsamoro government
will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.