“This year’s election is a historic first for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as it transitions from an armed struggle into a democratic and peaceful advocacy.”
— UBJP President Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim
BARMM News:
By EDD K. USMAN | @edd1819 | @bluestar0910 | SDN Science and Digital News
Short URL: https://wp.me/paaccn-icM
(SDN) — “The UBJP categorically endorses LENI ROBREDO as its Presidential candidate.”
United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), President Ahod Balawag “Al-Hajj Murad” Ebrahim made this declaration on April 23, 2022. It ended the group’s search for a presidential candidate to support in the May 9 national and local elections.
Ebrahim, chairman of the MILF, which already shed its revolutionary skin and is now in the thick of its first-ever official participation in the country’s political exercise, described the Vice President as one who walks the talk.
“Leni Robredo is not just talks, she acts.”
Leaders of the UBJP invited Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo to Camp Darapanan, Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, in Maguindanao, one of the five component provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) for the declaration, or endorsement.
Composing the Bangsamoro region are Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi as well as 63 villages designated as Special Geographic Area (SGA) in North Cotabato province (which itself is not part of BARMM). The 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) gave birth to the BARMM through the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
At present UBJP has various groups, aside from the BARMM areas, in Butuan, Bukidnon, Davao City, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, and Davao Oriental, among other areas in Southern Philippines.
Before the UBJP endorsement of VP Leni Robredo the MILF’s political wing was weighing who to anoint among the 10 presidential candidates. UBJP leaders invited the presidentiables to visit the BARMM and hold dialogue with Bangsamoro leaders. The dialogue served as forum for exchange of ideas as well as hear out presidential aspirants’ plans for the Mindanao peace process and its full implementation.
Related: Choosing Vice President Leni Robredo is MILF Political Party’s ‘Principled Stand’
Only Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and VP Leni Robredo came. The Vice President’s many prior engagements with Bangsamoro leaders, her response to the needs of the region’s population and her highly positive views on the full implementation of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), through the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), apparently weighed heavily on the UBJP leaders.
Mayor Moreno made his pitch as well in his meeting with BARMM leaders at the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC), in Cotabato City.
“This year’s election is a historic first for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as it transitions from an armed struggle into a democratic and peaceful advocacy,” Ebrahim emphasizes.
He described as paving the way “a new brand of principled politics in the region”, giving the electorate an option in choosing their local leaders the MILF’s participation in this year’s local elections in the BARMM.
“As a principled political party, the UBJP opened its doors to all Presidential candidates who were willing to present their plans and platforms of action for the Bangsamoro. Within the past two (2) months of the campaign period, only two (2) Presidentiables courageously approached the UBJP to introduce themselves and their slate, and to offer their commitment to continue the gains of the Bangsamoro Peace Process,” the UBJP said.
The UBJP earlier endorsed local candidates in the BARMM areas whose plans jibed with the MILF political party’s push to realize and continue the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process.
Ebrahim recalled the UBJP commitment to support anyone anointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte. The President later decided to not name any of the presidential aspirants, except his support for his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, who is in the race for Vice President.
Following is the UBJP president’s statement on the endorsement of VP Leni Robredo:
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE UBJP PRESIDENT
This year’s election is a historic first for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as it transitions from an armed struggle into a democratic and peaceful advocacy.
The political participation of the MILF in the 2022 Local Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, through the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), ushers in a new brand of principled politics in the region and gives the electorate an option in choosing their local leaders.
The UBJP earlier pronounced its commitment to support President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s candidate for the next President of the Philippines. With the passing of time, President Duterte has made it clear that he has no intention of endorsing a successor among all of the Presidentiables for 2022, except that he openly supports the candidacy of his daughter, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, as Vice President.
As a principled political party, the UBJP opened its doors to all Presidential candidates who were willing to present their plans and platforms of action for the Bangsamoro. Within the past two (2) months of the campaign period, only two (2) Presidentiables courageously approached the UBJP to introduce themselves and their slate, and to offer their commitment to continue the gains of the Bangsamoro Peace Process.
Based on these presentations, the UBJP found that one stands out to be overwhelmingly compatible with the values, principles, and goals of the party. This Presidential candidate sees eye-to-eye with the UBJP and is considerably familiar with the history, context, struggle, and issues of the Bangsamoro.
This Presidential candidate is a brave, strong-willed, and compassionate leader who willingly fights for the rights of the marginalized, knowing fully well that peace cannot be attained without serving justice.
This leader is LENI ROBREDO.
The UBJP categorically endorses LENI ROBREDO as its Presidential candidate.
Her track record consistently demonstrates strong support to the advocacies of the Bangsamoro. At certain points when we needed allies in Congress, and as Vice President of the Philippines, LENI ROBREDO was there for us. She was there for Marawi. She makes time for the Bangsamoro and in the many engagements with her on specific concerns of the Bangsamoro, we feel her compassion and support. LENI ROBREDO is not just talk, she ACTS.
As we aspire for genuine reconciliation and national healing, having LENI ROBREDO as the next President of the country brings hope to the realization of the elusive unity, through inclusivity, good governance, and real democracy.
Bilang panghuli, nananawagan kami sa lahat ng Bangsamoro na suportahan at IBOTO si LENI ROBREDO sa pagka-Pangulo ngayong Mayo 9, 2022 at iluklok siya sa Malacanang. Ang kanyang pagkapanalo ay tagumpay din ng Bangsamoro.
ALLAHU AKBAR! (✓)
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Featured image credit to UBJPNL Deputy Secretary General Naguib G. Sinarimbo