05 August 2008

AGREEMENT ON ANCESTRAL DOMAIN TO BE REVIEWED, SAYS TRILLANES

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed P.S. Res. No. 546 yesterday to conduct an inquiry on the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The MOA, as announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her recent State of the Nation Address, will be signed on August 5, 2008 in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Among its reported provisions is the expansion of covered areas of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to include 721 new villages in five additional provinces to form the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity.

Trillanes said the provisions of the MOA should be reviewed to protect the affected Mindanao communities and national interest. He said that local government officials in these areas, headed by North Cotabato goverrnor Jesus Sacdalan, have requested for a disclosure of the draft agreement before the final signing.

The Senate investigation to be conducted by the Committee on National Defense and Security, will review a copy of the MOA and summon government officials representing the Philippine government panel. According to Trillanes, further investigation of the provisions may lead to possible deferment if its terms are proven detrimental to the country.

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