Push Admin

Bangsamoro gov't says 3-year election postponement enough for peace, development

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

The Bangsamoro government said on Monday the 3-year postponement of the Muslim-led region&#x27;s supposed first elections in 2022 would be enough time to bring about peace and development to the southern area. The Bangsamoro Transition Authority had sought to defer the region&#x27;s polls after the COVID-19 crisis delayed aspects of its agreement with government, including the decommissioning of former rebels, said Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo. &quot;Sufficient enough iyong 3 years po para makumpleto natin iyong implementation ng peace agreement at saka maging matatag na rin iyong pundasyon noong gobyerno ng Bangsamoro,&quot; he said in a televised public briefing. (Three years is sufficient to complete the implementation of the peace agreement and strengthen the foundation of the Bangsamoro government.) &quot;Sa amin hong palagay ay sapat na ho iyong panahon na 3 taon para ho talagang maayos na natin ang peace and development dito sa ating rehiyon,&quot; added the official. (In our opinion, those 3 years will be enough for us to put in order the peace and development here in our region.)President Rodrigo Duterte last week signed a law postponing the Bangsamoro elections to 2025. The BTA &quot;shall continue as the interim government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,&quot; reads the law. However, it said the President may appoint 80 new interim leaders of the BTA &quot;who shall serve up to June 30, 2025, or until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.&quot; Duterte, the first President from Mindanao, had promised the creation of the Muslim-led Bangsamoro region in the lead-up to the 2016 elections. Halfway through his 6-year term, Duterte delivered on this vow that was hoped to end decades of violence in the south.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/09/07/19/duterte-less-fighting-in-mindanao-because-of-bangsamoro-organic-law">Duterte: Less fighting in Mindanao because of Bangsamoro Organic Law</a></li></ul>The law that created the Bangsamoro, signed in July 2018, was the product of a peace deal between the MILF and the administration of the late Benigno Aquino III 4 years prior. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/01/25/19/after-bangsamoro-organic-law-is-ratified-now-comes-the-hard-part">After Bangsamoro Organic Law is ratified, now comes the hard part</a></li></ul>

The Bangsamoro government said the 3-year postponement of the region's supposed elections would be enough time to bring about peace and development.