Murad’s trip to Ankara had Palace authority, BARMM says

The recent trip to Ankara of Bangsamoro Administrative Region for Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim was covered by a travel authority from Malacañang, the spokesperson for the BARMM said on Friday.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo made the statement hours after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on Twitter that he was going to file a diplomatic protest against Turkey for "a slap at Philippine sovereignty."

Locsin said he was also looking at filing a suit against BARMM officials over the incident that he didn't specify.

"It is also worth mentioning that the travel of the Chief Minister was upon the invitation of the Government of Turkey and the corresponding Travel Authority was issued by the Office of the President of the Philippines to the Chief Minister," Sinarimbo said.

"Further, in all of the meetings between the Chief Minister and representatives of the Government of Turkey,  the government of the Philippines was represented  by the Consul General," he added.

Sources said the secretary was angered by a meeting in Ankara between Turkish government officials and Murad from December 13 to 15.

Locsin early Friday evening tweeted that he and Turkish Ambassador Artemiz Sümer had ironed out the misunderstanding.

"I met with Turkish Ambassador Artemiz Sümer to clear up the misunderstanding. We both agreed to continue to coordinate all engagements with BARMM together," Locsin said.

"I reaffirmed to my good friend Ambassador Sümer that my affection for Turkey has only increased with the swift resolution of this issue," he added.

Sinarimbo said Locsin could have initially raised the issue with the Inter-governmental Relations Mechanism.

"The Bangsamoro Organic Law similarly provides for a venue to raise issues of this nature. The venue is the Inter-governmental Relations Body," Sinarimbo said.

"In fact, the IGRB, co-chaired by Sec Dominguez and Minister Iqbal held its first meeting in Davao City on Decemebr 16, 2019," he added. —NB, GMA News