MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is elated with how non-Muslims are campaigning for an electoral mandate for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
MILF’s top leader Hadji Murad Ebrahim said among the endorsers of the BOL is Mindanao Catholic leader Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, who has persistently been asserting that it will correct the “historical injustice” that the Moro people are ranting about.
Ebrahim said Quevedo, along with Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay and her husband Vice Mayor Roderick Furigay and Mayor Ramon Piang of Upi town in Maguindanao are campaigning for the ratification of the BOL.
He said their efforts to campaign for the BOL are a big boost to the peace process in Mindanao.
Ebrahim said Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and his siblings had organized a rally to show the support of provincial and municipal officials for the BOL.
According to Ebrahim, North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza has also pledged to support BOL.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who hails from North Cotabato, announced last week that he is calling for the ratification of the BOL.
“To all of them the MILF shall be forever grateful,” Ebrahim said.
The Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), an association of economists, former government officials and members of the business community, has expressed support for the conduct of the plebiscite to ratify BOL.
FEF said the ratification of the BOL will greatly contribute to attaining lasting peace in the region.
In Basilan, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman appealed to Church leaders not to use the pulpit to pass wrong information about the BOL. – With Jess Diaz, Czeriza Valencia, Roel Pareño, Lino dela Cruz, Sheila Crisostomo