By: Robert Maulana Marohombsar Alonto
In the exclusive meeting with the MNLF brothers headed by Bro. Nur Misuari, Chairman of the MNLF, that was presided over by the OIC Secretary General, Ekmeluddin Ihsanoglu, in Djibouti on November 16, 2012, Bro. Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, Chairman of the MILF and head of the MILF delegation stressed the philosophy that underpinned the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro. Bro. Murad in effect said that for almost 16 years, interspersed with all-out wars, the MILF has been engaged in negotiations with the Philippine government. And in these 16 years, what was uppermost in the mind of the MILF was the aspiration for self-determination of the Bangsamoro people. In this context, he said, the MILF entered the negotiation not for the sake or benefit of the MILF but for the collective interest of the Bangsamoro. Following up on this logic, Brother Murad further reminded everyone in the meeting that group or organizational interest should give way to this collective interest of the Bangsamoro people. It is high time, he said, for every Moro to think of the general welfare of the Bangsamoro, and not the parochial and vested interest or personal agenda of any group or individual. Continue reading

