BONGAO, TAWI-TAWI, December 13, 2018 – Close to a thousand Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leaders and their families, along with community women and youth leaders, gathered at the MSU Prep High Gymnasium for the MNLF assembly in December 11, 2018 organized by the MNLF Central Committee to increase public understanding of the provisions of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

“Naniniwala ang liderato ng MNLF na ang BOL ay reflective ng provisions ng 1996 Peace agreement,” Romeo Sema, Vice Chairperson for Internal Affairs MNLF-CC, told those in attendance.

(The MNLF leadership believes that the BOL is reflective of the provisions of the 1996 Peace agreement)

Sema said the MNLF leadership also recognizes that the BOL is the product of the sacrifices of both the MNLF and MILF.

“Isa lang dapat ang solusyon sa Bangsamoro people. Hindi lang ito para sa MILF, hindi lang ito para sa gobyerno. Para ito sa buong Bangsamoro,” he added.

(There should only be one solution to the [issue of] the Bangsamoro people. The BOL is not just for the MILF, or the government. This is for the Bangsamoro people.)

The local government unit of Bongao through the office of Municipal Mayor Jimuel Que has pledged its support for the ratification of the BOL and called on the constituents to ratify it in the upcoming plebiscite.

“The mayor supports and trusts this law. Let us do our duty and vote ‘yes’ to the BOL,” Secretary to the Mayor Kinlene Aming-Sabaani said.

Commissioner Jose Lorena of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) also called on the people to ratify the BOL on January 21, 2019. ###