ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The city government, which is opposing the inclusion of the city to any Bangsamoro territory, has denied that it turned down the courtesy call and executive session planned Wednesday by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-led Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
The courtesy call and executive session are part of the schedule of the BTC to reach out to the other local government units as they visit this western part of the region and on their way to the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
The three island provinces are part of the areas of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that will be replaced by the Bangsamoro political entity once the government and the MILF sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) as a result of the successful forging of the Framework Agreement of the Bangsamoro (FAB) with its annexes.
However, the city government vehemently denied it has turned down the supposed planned courtesy call and executive session of the BTC panel with Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar and the City Councilors.
Sheila Covarrubias, the city government public information officer (PIO), clarified that Salazar took initiatives to make the visit of the BTC more meaningful by requesting the panel to hold a public forum to reach out to wider portion of the community instead of merely briefing selected officials in an executive meeting.
“There was no closing of door or turning down of the plan visit because the city government has opened the city for the panelists to meet and have a forum with the public for better understanding,†Covarrubias said, citing that the forum will serve as venue for residents to seek clarifications as well as reaffirm stand on the issue.
Covarrubias disclosed that the BTC initially has no plans of conducting dialogue or public forum in the city, citing that the place is not included in the areas to be under the Bangsamoro entity.
“The mayor thought it is wise to have the BTC meet with the different stakeholders given the city’s united and firm stand on exclusion from any Bangsamoro entity,†she added.