Visit to MILF’s Camp Darapanan not part of political campaign —Duterte

Presidential aspirant Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said that his visit to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's Camp Darapanan in Maguindanao was not part of his campaign trail.

In Darapanan, Duterte said: "MILF  is apolitical. Ayaw nilang mamili kasi it's a rebel front eh."

He said he went to the camp in Sultan Kudarat to offer a proposal to the MILF Central Committee regarding the failure of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Earlier, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohaqher Iqbaql said Congress' failure to pass the BBL has caused "widespread frustration" within the Front and among the people in Mindanao.

Duterte said he made a request to the central committee to hold back whatever plans it has amid the disappointment arising from the BBL's fate.

"Remember that Murad said that he will go to war without the BBL sabi ko 'huwag na lang muna, I know that you are disappointed so i-hold mo lang muna ang decision to fight ...'," Duterte said.

He was referring to the suggestion he was planning to offer to MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.

But, Murad was not present during the meeting at the Camp and Duterte, instead, had a chance to talk to MILF 1st Vice Chairman Gazali Jaafar, who led the committee in welcoming  Duterte.

The BBL is a product of the Comprehensive Agreement with the Bangsamoro that was signed in Manila in March 2014 by both the government and the MILF peace panels.

Before they adjourned in February, both Houses of Congress failed to subject to a vote the BBL that was expected to lead to the creation of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

After the visit to Camp Darapanan, Duterte hurried back to Davao City to attend a political rally in the afternoon and by Saturday evening, he will fly to Manila. — LBG, GMA News