Sunday 31st July, 2011 (Source: GMA News)
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front urged the government over the weekend to end all on-shore and offshore oil and natural gas exploration activities in "Moro ancestral domain."
In a July 30 statement, the MILF said that while it is not against economic development, the exploration may violate the spirit of ongoing peace efforts.
Also it said, "...for as long as this issue remains yet to be resolved on the negotiating table, attempts to exploit and utilize these natural resources by foreign corporate entities in partnership with or with the express permission of the GPH would result in depriving the Bangsamoro people of their collective proprietary right over said resources."
An image of the statement was posted on the MILF website Sunday.
Jaafar particularly cited the on-shore and offshore oil and gas explorations, as well as the privatization or sale of Agus and Pulangi Hydro Power Complex.
Such exploration may "preempt the intent of the Parties to the negotiation to frame a comprehensive compact formula that would allow the Bangsamoro people to exercise governance over self-sustaining natural resource-based territorial homeland in their remaining ancestral domain," he added.
Jaafar also said the MILF cannot agree that such economic development be "unilaterally be determined by the GPH, contrary to and in violation of the letter and spirit of the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement on Peace of June 2001."
Meanwhile, the MILF opposed as well the privatization or sale of Agus and Pulangi Hydro Power Complex, saying: "The sale would preempt talks on the issues of ancestral domain and patrimony and land ownership."
The MILF also warned private companies against letting themselves become "accomplices in further depriving the Bangsamoro of their remaining ancestral domain."
“We have been minoritized in our own homeland of Mindanao due to massive land grabbing and resettlement programs. And now, the little resources that is remaining to us, some of those in the private sector and their partners in government still greedily covet," Jaafar said.
In a separate article on its website on Sunday, the MILF said its peace panel already served notice on June 27 and 28 to its government counterpart the MILF's opposition to the explorations.
Jaafar also said it is only fair and proper that the government should hear the voices of the Bangsamoro people on an issue that cuts across the whole spectrum of the peace process.
The Department of Energy (DoE) had announced recently that there are 15 areas being offered for exploration and development bidding, which are located in Cagayan, Central Luzon, Northwest Palawan, Mindoro-Cuyo, East Palawan, Cotabato and the Sulu Sea.
At least $7.5 billion, or about P322.5 billion, in investments is expected to be infused in the oil and gas sector, once the 15 contracts for the exploration and development of highly prospective areas are awarded to investors. — LBG, GMA News