“Her removal stripped off the much-needed representation of women in the transition government during the most crucial part of the transition period.”

CAGAYAN DE ORO — Women leaders under the revolutionary group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) opposed the exclusion of MILF official Aida Silongan from the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In an open letter addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dated May 22, MILF women leaders from 15 Mindanao-based organizations believed that Silongan delivered significant contributions in advancing the welfare and agenda of Bangsamoro women given the tasks she fulfilled as the executive secretary of MILF’s social welfare committee.

Silongan had been a BTA member since 2019 and headed the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). Hence, the women leaders were surprised after she was replaced by an appointed member who was not endorsed by the MILF.

“Her removal stripped off the much-needed representation of women in the transition government during the most crucial part of the transition period,” a part of the open letter reads, emphasizing that Silongan represents the thousands of MILF women at the grassroots level.

Marcos Jr. changed the BTA leadership in March this year by appointing some new members, including the appointment of the new interim chief minister, and retaining many others. Silongan was not on the list of new and reappointed members obtained by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

The new set of interim members of parliament is tasked to lead the Bangsamoro regional government until the proclamation of winners of the first-ever BARMM parliamentary elections in October this year.

Silongan, who hails from North Cotabato, used to be an engineering contractor. But she left her career in the engineering field to serve the Bangsamoro people, starting as a volunteer to MILF’s social welfare committee.

She was designated as the first and only woman member of the Board of Directors of MILF’s development arm Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and became the lead convener of the Women’s Organization Movement of Bangsamoro (WOMB), a federation of 30 Mindanao-based women’s organizations. 

Together with her colleagues, Silongan established the Al-Amanah Humanitarian Development Services Incorporated, a non-government organization that helps vulnerable sectors in the Bangsamoro region.

Amirah Lidasan, co-chairperson of Moro and indigenous peoples rights group Sandugo, backed the call of MILF women leaders, underscoring the need for competent women’s representation in the BTA, especially those who fought for peace in Mindanao.

She criticized the continuous interference of the government in the BARMM following Marcos’ questionable appointment of new BTA members and the postponement of the region’s first parliamentary elections.

“Since the BTA is part of the peace process with the MILF, it should look into the possible violations committed by the Philippine government to the peace deal and to determine if they are sincere with the ongoing peace talks,” Lidasan told Bulatlat in Filipino.

In an activity in Cotabato City on March 20, MILF Peace Implementing Panel Chief Mohagher Iqbal questioned the change in BTA leadership, saying it was a violation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). This came after only 35 of the 41 MILF-endorsed nominees were appointed by Marcos.

Read: Bangsamoro Organic Law: MILF questions gov’t compliance

Article 2, Section 16 of the BOL, which created the BARMM in 2019, states that the MILF shall lead the BTA without prejudice to the participation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in its membership. The MILF is the breakaway group of the MNLF.

Abdulraof Macacua, BARMM’s new interim chief minister, earlier said the new set of BTA officials is still considered MILF-led since there were, accordingly, MILF-affiliated nominees from the national government who were appointed.

The women leaders who signed the open letter urged Marcos Jr. to review his appointment to the new set of Bangsamoro parliament members and ensure the fair representation of women. They also urged the current administration not to allow another postponement of parliamentary elections. (RTS, RVO)