STATEMENT OF SEN TG GUINGONA III ON THE SIGNING
OF THE NORMALIZATION ANNEX OF THE FRAMEWORK
AGREEMENT FOR THE BANGSAMORO

I join Mindanaoans and the rest of the Nation in lauding and celebrating the signing of the Normalization Annex of the Framework Agreement for Bangsamoro.

We believe this is a major step towards achieving our aspiration for peace and stability in Mindanao. Such environment of peace and stability has become even more crucial as we move forward to rebuild many parts of Mindanao that have been adversely affected by the series of natural calamities which hit that portion of our country.

More important, this brings us closer to the aspiration for genuine peace and development for the Bangsamoro.

We congratulate the panels of both the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. This development speaks well of their resolve to ensure the completion of the peace process despite the many roadblocks they had to hurdle.

I reiterate the full support of the Senate Peace, Unification and Reconciliation Committee to the efforts of both the Government and the MILF to bring the process to the eventual passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.