Given the critical tasks of the Transition Commission, the MPC seeks to offer the following criteria which are essential conditions to ensure a smooth and efficient transition period.
First, the transition commission must be composed of men and women with proven track record in human rights, peace building and support to the GPH-MILF Peace Talks.
Second, it must consider individuals who have no conflict of interest in the desired roadmap of the transition period. Thus, it must avoid as much as possible appointing traditional politicians who represent that abusive, warlord-led and already unacceptable status quo that the Framework Agreement seeks to replace.
Third, consistent with the National
Action Plan of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Transition
Commission must have at least 30% women members who directly come from
conflict-affected areas and with clearly identified constituency to represent.
Fourth, a representative
from the indigenous peoples must also be appointed in the Transition Commission
in order to ensure that their rights are heard and protected. This
representative must be chosen on the basis of consensus building among the
indigenous peoples leaders with special focus on those tribes that are directly
affected e.g. Teduray, Dulangan Manobo, Arumanen, B’laan and Higaonon tribes.
Fifth,
with the Transition Commission to be composed of fifteen, all-Moro members, it
must ensure that the geographic areas of the Bangsamoro must be represented
especially those coming from the island-provinces.
Finally,
a representative from the Moro National Liberation Front must also be appointed
in order to promote unity and convergence of the MNLF and MILF peace processes
with the Philippine government. It is vital that the Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF) will actively participate in TC and will have a say in the
drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
The
above-criteria are far from being exhaustive but should at least facilitate a
transparent and inclusive selection process bearing in mind that these men and
women will be entrusted with a mandate that will change history not only for
the Bangsamoro people but also for the people in Mindanao and in the entire
country.
With full
trust in the wisdom and sound judgment of President Benigno Aquino III and
Chairman Al Hajj Murad, MPC offers these criteria as we seek to support and
accompany each and every stage of the transition period with the end in view of
ensuring that the avowed commitments in the Framework Agreement will indeed be
fully implemented to the satisfaction not only of the parties but also to its
larger constituencies and stakeholders in Mindanao and in the entire country.