MILF names female lawyer, educator as newest consultants

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has named at least two Moro women to its peace panel’s board of consultants. An article on the MILF website identified the two new consultants as lawyer Raissa Jajurie and educator Bai Cabaybay Abubakar. "Jajurie, a Tausog, was the coordinator of the Mindanao branch of the Sentrong Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) or Center for Alternative Legal Services. Cabaybay is currently the president of the Shariff Kabunsuan College in Cotabato City," the MILF said. Earlier named to the board of consultants was Timuay Melanio Ulama, a member of the T’duray tribe, a group of indigenous peoples in Mindanao. The MILF said its central committee is now screening other nominees. MILF peace panel secretariat head Jun Mantawil said the criteria for the nominees include:

• good moral character;
• belief in the mission, vision, and work of the MILF for the Bangsamoro people and indigenous peoples;
• accepting the responsibilities associated with the actions of the organization related to the peace process;
• good clout, credibility, and acceptability with the Moro masses; and
• no automatic membership.

Mantawil stressed that membership in the board of consultants does not mean membership in the MILF. — JE, GMA News