Diane Hora
Cotabato City — "It’s time to go." These are the words of United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) Vice President Mohagher Iqbal as he expressed his desire to step down and be replaced as Chairman of the Peace Implementing Panel of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Iqbal made this statement in an interview on Thursday during the pre-implementation meeting and groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a warehouse, solar dryer, and women and youth center in Dungguan, Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur as part of the Camps Transformation Project of the government and MILF.
"Well, the fact that I've been helpful for too long already, in 21 years as Chair of the panel, and I think it's time to go," Iqbal said.
However, he noted that the decision still depends on the MILF's Central Committee.
"Of course, the Central Committee, because the panel, especially the chair of the panel, is through the authority of the leadership of the MILF. We're representing the MILF, and the MILF is representing the Bangsamoro people," Iqbal added.
When asked about the reason for his decision and if he would recommend a successor, the official stated, "Well, I do not want to pre-empt the decision of the central committee. It's the discretion as well as the decision of the MILF leadership to name my successor if that is really necessary on the part of the leadership of the BARMM."
Pending the crucial implementation of the remaining provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), Iqbal emphasized that his successor should have mastered the integrity of the negotiation.
"Siguro, isa sa agency ng MILF 'yong panel na halos wala kaming pagkakamali, bakit? Kasi 'yong malalaking desisyon po namin ikinukunsulta po namin ng leadership ng MILF. Halimbawa, face-to-face na nag-uusap kami, kung may isang bagay doon na wala doon sa authority namin eh, we consult the leadership of the MILF, kaya hindi rin masyadong problematic kung sino ang papalit sa akin. As long as yun ang susundin niya na yung authority ay limitado yan. Kung hindi 'yan sa authority or authority has to consult the leadership, but of course, you need to choose someone who mastered the entergrity of the negotiation para from the beginning to the end, you know, maraming konteksto kasi ito eh," Iqbal said.
Apart from serving as the Chairman of the Peace Implementing Panel of the MILF and Vice President of UBJP, Iqbal is also currently the Minister of the Basic, Higher, and Technical Education Ministry of BARMM.
Apart from serving as the Chairman of the Peace Implementing Panel of the MILF and Vice President of UBJP, Iqbal is also the current Minister of the Basic, Higher, and Technical Education Ministry of BARMM.
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