CONSOLIDATED NEWS REPORTS

(Excerpts from News Reports)

Coverage: February 17, 2019 12:01AM to February 23, 2019 11:59pm
February 25, 2018 8AM

NEWSPAPER/DATE/ WRITER/
NEWS HEADLINE POINTS
LINK

Pro-Duterte movement to The Kilusang Pagbabago (KP) in the Visayas will be throwing its support to Philippine News Agency
campaign for 7 seven senatorial candidates of the administration in the coming May February 18, 2019
senatoriables 2019 elections. By: Luel Galarpe

Kilusang Pagbabago Visayas lead convenor, Doris Isubal-Mongaya, said http://www.pna.gov.ph/arti

in an interview Monday that KP, the grassroots movement of supporters cles/1062237
of President Rodrigo Duterte, looks forward to the realization of federalism
and anti-poverty programs of the administration when these seven V. Mindanao Issue
candidates join the Senate. (autonomy)

Mongaya said the seven candidates are former Special Assistant to the Others: Political
President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, former Philippine National
Police Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, erstwhile Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, Congressman Zajid
“Dong” Mangudadatu, and Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, JV
Ejercito and Cynthia Villar.

63 North Cotabato villages Officials at the Commission on Election (Comelec) in North Cotabato are Philippine Daily Inquirer
under BARRM awaiting still at a loss as to whether or not the 63 villages that already form part of February 20, 2019
Comelec guide on May 13 the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) By: Willamor Magbanua
polls can still vote during the May 13 midterm elections this year.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/
Lawyer Jay Herada, North Cotabato election supervisor, could not yet 1088045/63-north-cotabato-
give the direct answer to the question but said the office was awaiting villages-under-barrm-
the guidelines and directives from the main office on the fate of the 63 awaiting-comelec-guide-on-
villages, whose people had voted for inclusion in the BARMM after the may-13-polls
Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) was ratified in a plebiscite on Jan. 21.
V. Mindanao Issue
“I cannot comment on that in the meantime since there is no clear (automony)
 directive yet from our office in Manila,” Herada told the Inquirer in a
mobile phone interview.

Herada said their only clear mandate was the conduct of an orderly and
peaceful plebiscite on Feb. 6, when the villages had voted for their
inclusion in the BARMM.

“We will continue the preparations in all villages of North Cotabato until
we receive the directives,” Herada said. “We continue the training,
especially of the teachers who will serve as Board of Election Inspector,”

Malacañang hopes Malacañang on Wednesday said that it expects the Bangsamoro Philippine News Agency
Bangsamoro transition body Transition Authority (BTA) to “lead effectively” as its officials are set to take February 20, 2019
‘to lead effectively’ their oath of office before President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Friday. By: Azer Parrocha

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that while previous http://www.pna.gov.ph/arti

entities have received complaints regarding their leadership, he was cles/1062452
hopeful that the BTA would learn from their mistakes.
V. Mindanao Issue
“Certainly, you must remember there have been complaints in the (autonomy)
governance in the previous entities,” Panelo told Palace reporters.
“Hopefully this new one, given the fact that they have learned their
lessons, I’m sure they will lead this time effectively unless they will answer
to the Muslim people,” he added.

The 80-member BTA will be appointed by the President.

Incumbent officials of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

will be part of the body until their term ends on June 30, 2019.

Following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the

ARMM will be replaced with a new Bangsamoro Region that will have
more power to govern themselves.

Execs find no issue on Public officials find as appropriate the inclusion of the feared warrior The Philippine Star
inclusion of feared warrior in Abdullah Macapaar into the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). February 21, 2019
BARMM transitory By: John Unson
Hadji Murad Ibrahim, figurehead of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, has
 announced that Macapaar, most known as MILF’s renegade https://www.philstar.com/na
Commander Bravo, is among the 41 members of the incoming BTA. tion/2019/02/21/1895610/exe
cs-find-no-issue-inclusion-
The National Bureau of Investigation has reportedly cleared Macapaar feared-warrior-barmm-
from any criminal case that could constrain President Rodrigo Duterte transitory
from appointing him as BTA member.
V. Mindanao Issue
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, a staunch supporter of the (autonomy)
peace efforts of Malacañang and the MILF, told The STAR via text
message Wednesday that Macapaar must participate in governance
after fighting the government for more than three decades.

Mangudadatu said President Rodrigo Duterte and the MILF’s top

leadership core must have agreed bilaterally on Macapaar’s inclusion in
the BTA.

Supreme Court: No more The Supreme Court (SC) will no longer hold oral arguments on petitions The Philippine Star
oral arguments on questioning the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). February 21, 2019
Bangsamoro Organic Law By: Edu Punay
The SC justices had planned to hear in oral arguments the petitions filed
by the Sulu provincial government led by Gov. Abdusakur Tan II and the https://www.philstar.com/he
Philippine Constitutional Association (Philconsa) seeking to stop the adlines/2019/02/21/1895543/
implementation of the BOL under Republic Act 11054. supreme-court-no-more-oral-
arguments-bangsamoro-
But they decided not to pursue it anymore following the ratification of organic-law
the law in the plebiscite conducted by the Commission on Elections
(Comelec) last Jan. 21 and Feb. 6, an insider told The STAR. V. Mindanao Issue
(autonomy)
The source, who requested anonymity due to lack of authority to speak
for the Court, said the magistrates opted to deliberate and decide on
the case next month.

“The member in charge will submit the draft decision in March,” the
insider revealed.
Duterte hints at President Rodrigo Duterte has hinted at the possibility of reconfiguring the Philippine Daily Inquirer
‘reconfiguring’ Moro region autonomous Moro region to accommodate the Moro National Liberation February 21, 2019
Front (MNLF), whose founding chair Nur Misuari has kept his silence on the
ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/
1088277/duterte-hints-at-
“I have to talk to Nur Misuari and let’s try to see if we could craft reconfiguring-moro-region
something more responsive,” the President said at the ninth anniversary
of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) here on Tuesday. V. Mindanao Issue
(autonomy)
“[The government needs to give] concessions to the Moro, which is the
correct thing, and also to reconfigure the territory to correct the historical
injustice in this land,” he said, days before he swears on the 80-member
Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the interim government in the
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The President did not explain how he planned to reconfigure the

autonomous region but Moro leaders said it could be done by including
MNLF-controlled territories in it, with Misuari’s help.

“I have a very limited [time] remaining, just three years,” he said. “[Soon],
I will be gone, and I told the military [that] maybe I could not wait for
peace to travel at a snail’s pace. We have to work hard and maybe it
has to be now,” the President said.

Murad named Bangsamoro After decades spent fighting for Moro self-rule, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim has Rappler
region's interim chief been named as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region's interim Chief February 22, 2019
minister Minister. By: Pia Ranada

This was formalized in a ceremony held on Friday, February 22, in https://www.rappler.com/na

Malacañang where President Rodrigo Duterte led the oath-taking of tion/224119-murad-ebrahim-
newly-appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) members. named-bangsamoro-region-
interim-chief-minister
"I am also pleased to announce the appointment of MILF chairman Al
Haj Murad Ebrahim as interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Transition V. Mindanao Issue
Authority," said Duterte in his speech after the oath-taking. (autonomy)

As Chief Minister, Murad will head the BTA, the entity that will lead the
new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in
 its first few years.

The 80 members of the BTA were also named on Friday.

BARMM 'realization' of Moro The newly-established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Philippine News Agency
dreams and end armed Mindanao (BARMM) is a realization of everyone's dream to end the February 22, 2019
struggle: PRRD armed struggle in Mindanao, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Friday. By: EJ Roque

"The successful ratification of this Organic Law will enable us to create an http://www.pna.gov.ph/arti
environment that will be conducive to the peaceful coexistence cles/1062747
between the Muslims, Christians, Lumads, and all tribes of this planet as
indigenous peoples and settlers who will consider Mindanao as their V. Mindanao Issue
home," Duterte said in his speech during the ceremonial confirmation of (autonomy)
the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite canvass results and oath-
taking ceremony of the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority
(BTA) at Malacañang Palace.

Duterte assured various stakeholders that his administration will ensure

good governance in BARMM.

"Your courage and determination will never be put to waste. I guarantee

that you and this administration will use all the resources within its disposal
to ensure better governance and inclusive political empowerment in this
new Bangsamoro region," he said.

The President recalled the hardships of the peace process and expressed
hope for permanent peaceful co-existence with the ratification of the
BOL.

"We would like to see an end of the violence that has rocked Mindanao
and have cost so many lives for nothing.If there is any problem at all or in
the future, let me assure you that for the remaining years of my work as a
government work here, here in this building, I assure you, Insha’Allah, I will
always do what the law says and what is yours, to what extent that we
can give you, not only comfort but happiness to the Muslims of
Mindanao," he said.

Duterte challenged the 80 newly-appointed members of the BTA to fulfill


UN chief hails establishment
of Bangsamoro transition
body
Commander Bravo inclusion
in BTA good for ending
revolution: PRRD
a better future for the people of BARMM by committing to the values of
the rule of law, good governance, and democracy.
"Always embody the dreams and aspirations of the great men and
women who came before you and fought for the recognition of your
right to determine your future," he told them.
The President announced the appointment of Moro Islamic Liberation
Front Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim as Interim Chief Minister of the
Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
The BOL, considered as one of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s biggest
legislative achievements, is expected to give the Moro people the basic
legal tools to chart their own destiny within the country’s Constitutional
framework.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday hailed Philippine News Agency
the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) as a February 23, 2019
"landmark achievement on the road to lasting peace in Southern By: Joyce Ann Rocamora
Philippines."
http://www.pna.gov.ph/arti
"The United Nations will continue to support the Philippines in the cles/1062781
implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), and to help build
the capacity of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to achieve peace, V. Mindanao Issue
democratic governance, and respect for human rights," (autonomy)
President Rodrigo R. Duterte said Friday the inclusion of Moro Islamic Philippine News Agency
Liberation Front commander Abdullah Macapaar, better known as February 23, 2019
Commander Bravo, in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will help By: EJ Roque
end the revolution in Mindanao.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/arti
"Well, he is a revolutionary. We are talking here of ending a revolution. So cles/1062778
you should talk to a revolutionary or a warrior of that war," Duterte said in
an interview with reporters after the ceremonial confirmation of the V. Mindanao Issue
Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite canvass results and oath- (autonomy)
taking of the BTA members in Malacañan Palace.
The National Bureau of Investigation reportedly cleared Macapaar, once
 a feared warrior, of involvement in any criminal case that could be a
legal ground for Duterte not to appoint him as BTA member.

BTA creation, a 'milestone' in The Japanese government welcomed the establishment of the Philippine News Agency
Mindanao peace process: Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) in Malacañang on Friday, citing it February 23, 2019
Japan as an "important milestone" in the Mindanao peace process. By: Joyce Ann Rocamora

The BTA is the governing body established to supervise the transition from http://www.pna.gov.ph/arti
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to the new Bangsamoro cles/1062758
government in 2022.
V. Mindanao Issue
In a statement, the Japanese Embassy in Manila relayed Tokyo's (autonomy)
commitment to "further enhance" its support to the region.

"Japan will continue to strengthen its support as the peace process

progresses to ensure that the people of Mindanao can feel the benefit of
peace," it said.

Japan's provision of a USD200-million loan for a road network in

Mindanao was formalized when the two nations signed an Exchange of
Notes this month.

Moreover, Japan will provide vehicles and other equipment worth about
PHP160 million for the Joint Peace and Security Team and the
Independent Decommissioning Body to support their normalization
activities that include the decommissioning and disarmament of former
Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Halfway into term, Duterte On February 22, President Rodrigo Duterte finally formed the Bangsamoro Rappler
delivers on Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), kickstarting the process of governing the new February 23, 2019
promise Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). By: Pia Ranada

The BTA will serve as the region's interim government from 2019 to 2022, https://www.rappler.com/na
when its people will elect new leaders. tion/224137-duterte-delivers-
bangsamoro-promise-
The formation of the BTA is an accomplishment that comes nearly halfway-term
halfway into Duterte's term as president. It's a definite feather in his cap,
but one built upon achievements of past administrations as well. V. Mindanao Issue
(autonomy)
"The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is not just a
fulifllment of a campaign promise. It will be the realization of our
collective desire. It will be the realization of all our dreams and end long
decades of armed struggle," he said in his speech.