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BARMM polls: PH gov’t, MILF peace panels hope for free, fair elections Image: OPAPRU
🇵🇭 Philippines /Elections & Politics

BARMM polls: PH gov’t, MILF peace panels hope for free, fair elections

From Philippine Daily Inquirer · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panels agreed to coordinate during the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.
  • The guidelines aim to preserve the ceasefire, prevent misunderstandings and support a peaceful, honest and transparent vote.
  • Officials described the election as a major step from armed struggle toward elected democratic governance in the Bangsamoro region.

The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have agreed on rules intended to keep the peace during the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections on Sept. 14.

The agreement was signed at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, by Mel Senen Sarmiento, chair of the government Peace Implementing Panel, and Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF panel. The guidelines cover ceasefire-related functions and coordination between government forces and the MILF during the vote.

On September 14, our success will not be measured by who wins or loses. Our success will be measured by whether the Bangsamoro people were able to vote freely, whether peace was preserved, and whether the result reflects the genuine choice of the electorate.

— Mel Senen SarmientoThe government peace panel chair defined the election’s success in terms of participation, peace and the credibility of the result.

The two sides committed to maintaining peace and ensuring an election that is peaceful, honest and transparent. They also aim to prevent misunderstandings between government troops and MILF members, improve coordination with election authorities and protect the peace process while remaining politically neutral.

It is about time to put closure to the peace and security problem in Mindanao.

— Mohagher IqbalThe MILF peace panel chair called for an end to the region’s longstanding security problems.

“On September 14, our success will not be measured by who wins or loses. Our success will be measured by whether the Bangsamoro people were able to vote freely, whether peace was preserved, and whether the result reflects the genuine choice of the electorate,” Sarmiento said.

Iqbal said the region’s security problems should now be brought to an end. “It is about time that the region is led by elected leaders because democracy resides in the people,” he said. He described the polls as more than an ordinary election because they implement the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The new leaders will receive a mandate from voters rather than appointment, marking a turning point for democratic governance in the region.

It is about time that the region is led by elected leaders because democracy resides in the people.

— Mohagher IqbalIqbal linked the parliamentary elections to democratic leadership in Bangsamoro.
About this summary

Originally published by Philippine Daily Inquirer. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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