The signing on August 5 of the agreement on a new Moro homeland between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GRP-MILF) sets the stage for talks on the final “comprehensive compact” that will hopefully bring to a close fighting that has killed 120,000 people since the1960s. (See draft MOA on the Ancestral domain aspect of the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement on peace 2001 here.)

According to the final draft of the GRP-MILF Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) and its executive summary obtained by ABS-CBN News, the signing on Tuesday in Kuala, Lumpur, Malaysia “will signal the start of formal talks for the negotiation of details of the Comprehensive Compact.”

The government and the 11,000-member MILF will try to reach a “Comprehensive Compact/Final Peace Agreement” in 15 months.

A plebiscite in 721 villages adjacent to the existing Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will take place within twelve months after the signing of the MOA-AD on Tuesday.

In response to critics of the MOA-AD, government negotiators have stressed that residents of villages who do not want to be part of an expanded ARMM should simply say ‘no’ in the plebiscite.

The MOA-AD was initialed July 27 by MILF negotiators led by Mohagher Iqbal and Ret. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia for the government.

It has taken four years for the GRP-MILF to negotiate an ancestral domain agreement. Two other accords, one on security and another on rehabilitation and development, have also been signed by both sides.

Historical inequities

The executive summary says the MOA-AD:

• “[is] a very significant step toward affirmatively addressing historical inequities and aberrations that impeded the full realization of the aspirations of the Bangsamoro”;
• “enhances the present playing field in Mindanao to benefit all people of Mindanao”;
• “redefines an acceptable geographical area for Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) or Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) not thru use of force but thru lawful means, dialogues and partnership”;
• “hopes to bring about mutually acceptable and equitable sharing of resources”;
• “Will enable Bangsamoro leadership and put in place mechanics and structures for effective/efficient governance in BJE”. 

It says the ancestral domain accord goes “beyond treating the issue of ancestral domain as a question of mere landownership.”

“Rather, we have forged a common objective of addressing the subject in terms of acknowledging the identity of the Bangsamoro people, affirming their rights over a homeland and its resources, and providing them the opportunity to establish a system of governance suitable and acceptable to them as a people possessing a unique history and culture,” the summary  says.

The concept on ancestral domain also has “items that explicitly define the Bangsamoro people’s identity and acknowledge their roots from a self-governing society in pre-Colonial Philippines.”

“At the heart of AD is respect and acknowledgement, not only of the Bangsamoro people’s rights and freedoms, but also vested property rights and religious and cultural liberties of other people,” it says.

Territory and resources

Based on the MOA-AD, the core of the new Moro homeland will be the following:

• The ARMM composed of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu; Tawi-Tawi; and the city of Marawi;
• Six municipalities in Lanao del Norte--Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, Tangkol—that voted for inclusion in the ARMM in the 2001 plebiscite;
• 721 villages adjacent to the ARMM, subject to a majority ‘yes’ vote in a plebiscite that will be held a year after Tuesday’s signing

More areas in Mindanao that will be provided with “affirmative” socio-economic and cultural assistance may be added to the new Moro homeland in a plebiscite that will be held “not earlier than 25 years” from the signing of the final peace agreement.

On resources, the MOA-AD grants the BJE authority “on the use and development of resources found within BJE jurisdiction.”

In the final draft of the MOA-AD, the BJE and central government will have a 75:25 sharing of profits, with 75% going to the BJE.

“The BJE take profit split from total production shall be shared with the Central Government on a percentage ratio of 75:25 in favor of the BJE. All royalties, bonuses, taxes, charges, custom duties or imposts on natural resources and mineral resources shall be shared by the Parties on a percentage ratio of 75:25 in favor of BJE,” the MOA-AD says.

Local leaders from the provinces and cities of North Cotobato and Zamboanga want the Supreme Court to stop the signing of the MOA-AD on Tuesday. (abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak)

RELATED STORIES:
• What is the GRP-MILF agreement on ancestral domain? 
• MILF urges critics of homeland accord to back peace process
• Lack of consultation, transparency on Moro homeland accord hit
• Ancestral domain accord opens door to MILF declaration of independence
• Collapse of gov’t-MILF talks on Moro homeland ‘most serious threat to peace’ 
• Gov’t reports breakthrough in peace talks with MILF 
• Zambo officials want SC stop Moro homeland accord 
• North Cotobato officials nix inclusion in expanded ARMM 

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