OIC participation needed in Bangsamoro deal - prelate

MANILA, Philippines - For the Bangsamoro Framework agreement to work, the participation of the Organization of Islamic Conference is needed, a Catholic bishop based in Mindanao said on Tuesday.

Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said this after the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed the normalization annexes of the agreement recently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The prelate said that the Zamboanga City standoff might happen again if there is no OIC member to monitor the situation in Mindanao.

Archbishop Ledesma said that the OIC participation is vital for other ethnic groups in the region the importance of the peace agreement.

He dded that the help of the OIC is very critical in resolving the issue of the government with the Moro National Liberation Front.
 
"Ang MNLF issue is also a matter of concern and we hope that the  Muslims themselves can arrange for some settlement specifically yung participation din ng OIC. It is critical that the international communities and Muslim countries understand the issues here in the Philippines," Archbishop Ledesma told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

The Archbishop also expressed optimism that the upcoming consultations for the Bangsamoro organic law will address all the queries of the people of Mindanao.

"We hope that all these consultations will clarify many of the remaining objections and apprehension of communities on both sides. I think the goodwill shown by both panels indicate that there is really hope for a just and lasting peace for all," he added.