By Roy Mabasa
The government of Turkey on Wednesday welcomed the appointment of the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) following Malacanang’s initial release of the names of persons comprising the body.
“We congratulate all stakeholders who have worked towards this historical development,” Turkey said in a statement released by its embassy in Manila.
President Rodrigo Duterte leads the oath taking of the members of the Bangsamoro transition authority takes during the ceremonial confirmation of the Bangsamoro Organic plebiscite canvass results and oath-taking ceremony of the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority at Malacañang Palace on Feb. 22, 2019. (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Turkey, one of the founding members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), assured that it will continue to support the Southern Philippines Peace Process in the period ahead.
“We welcome that the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority were appointed by H.E. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and have already assumed their offices, following the approval of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the plebiscite held on 21 January 2019 by the people of the region, which established the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in southern Philippines,” the Turkey government said.
Malacañang released on Wednesday the appointment papers of 76 members or five days after they took their oath of office.
The Palace released a total of 77 appointment papers including the appointment paper of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Murad Ebrahim as Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister.
Duterte has yet to name four more individuals in order to complete the 80-member BTA.
BTA is the body that will serve as the BARMM's government from 2019 to the 2022 polls.