PCID Statement on
the Transition Commission
By Philippine Center for
Islam and Democracy
February 28, 2013
The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy lauds the appointment of
the members of the Transition Commission of the Government of the
Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which
is tasked with the drafting of the Basic Law as envisioned in the
Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) signed last October 15,
2012. The Basic Law will set up the new autonomous political entity
called “Bangsamoro” by June 30, 2016.
The TransCom will be chaired by MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal.
The seven (7) members representing government are Akmad A. Sakkam,
Johaira C. Wahab, Talib A. Benito, Asani S. Tammang, Pedrito A. Eisma,
Froilyn T. Mendoza and Fatmawati T. Salapuddin. The members
representing the MILF are Iqbal, Maulana Alonto, Abdullah Camlian,
Ibrahim D. Ali, Raissa H. Jajurie, Melanio U. Ulama, Hussein P. Munoz
and Said M. Shiek.
PCID congratulates the Government and the MILF for ensuring the
representation of women, thru Wahab, Mendoza and Salapuddin (GPH) and
Jajurie (MILF). We also applaud the representation for the Indigenous
peoples thru Mendoza from the GPH and Ulama from the MILF.
PCID notes, however, that Tawi-Tawi has no official representation in
the TransCom considering that the domain of the New Political Entity
will be the Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi,
it is unfortunate that Tawi-Tawi has no representation.
Tawitawi leader Ismael Abubakar, Jr, former Speaker of the ARMM
Regional Legislative Assembly, noted that while the members of the
Transtion Commission are “qualified in terms of education competence
and experience”, he regrets that Tawi-Tawi which had “played an active
role in the struggle and in the history of autonomy were left out
without any representation”.
It is however hoped that genuine consultations on all stakeholders
will be undertaken by the Commission in the disposition of its tasks
to reach at the most inclusive formula.
As the 15-member Transition Commission prepares to draft the Basic
Law, which is still subject to the awaited FAB Annexes on
power-sharing and wealth-sharing due to be completed by March 2013,
PCID hopes that attention will be given to issues concerning the
expansion and independence of the Shari’ah legal system. PCID further
urges that attention be given to fiscal autonomy and the need to
develop policies to establish the foundation for Shari’ah-compliant
business and investments to flourish within the Bangsamoro.
