Statement by OIC Secretary General on

Latest Development of the Peace Process in Southern Philippines

The Secretary General of the organization of Islamic Cooperation Mr.
Iyad Ameen Madani has expressed grave concern about latest
development of the peace process in the Southern Philippines, and
about the difficulties facing the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the
Philippine Congress, particularly the substantial amendments to the
BBL which constitute drastic modification to the original agreement.
These amendments restore the National Government control over many
areas and they actually reduce the Bangsamoro Government to an
entity similar to an ordinary local government unit.
The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that was
signed on 27th March 2014 and which was described by H. E. President
Aquino of the Philippines as a real genuine seal of lasting peace in
Mindanao promised to usher in a new era of peace after decades of
war, displacement, misery and destitution. This agreement is now being
threatened.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation strongly supports the
President of the Philippines in his efforts to achieve a just and lasting
peace in Mindanao including the passage of the agreed version of the
BBL, and calls upon all concerned to support these efforts.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation urges the Philippines
authorities, in particular the law makers, who share the common goal at
working for peace and stability, not to let this historical moment become
another lost opportunity. The OIC, which has been engaged with the
peace process in Southern Philippines since its inception, calls upon all
concerned to work hand in hand to ensure that the final BBL will ensure
the concept of exclusivity of the powers of the Bangsamoro political
entity as agreed upon in the CAB. We urge the government of
Philippines and the lawmakers to ensure that the BBL, which is now
pending before the Congress, will not come out different from the
original BBL.
On the other hand, we urge the leaders of both the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to
consolidate their coordination and cooperation through the Bangsamoro
Coordination Forum (BCF) and to engage other stakeholders in order to
close ranks and strengthen and consolidate their cooperation and unity
and maintain their peaceful struggle for the common cause.

He also called upon the development agencies of the OIC and other
International bodies to continue their rehabilitation and development
programs in the region.
The preparation for holding a meeting of the Tripartite Review Process
on the implementation of the 1996 Peace Agreement and linking and
converging of the two previous peace agreements with the Bangsamoro
Basic Law is underway.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation will continue its efforts for
peace in Mindanao and will continue monitoring the situation closely
until our efforts lead us to the real dawn of peace and stability and a
final end to the long struggle of the Bangsamoro people.