Something for the peace negotiators: Muslim ancestral domain claims vs. on-going oil & gas explorations in Mindanao
"Mohaqher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, said in a statement that he had forwarded to his counterpart in the government, Marvic Leonen, the MILF position on the ongoing bidding by the Department of Energy on oil and gas exploration in Sulu and other areas claimed by Muslims as its ancestral domain.
"He said the Moro people would get nothing if the bidding continued, without settling the issue on ancestral domain claims.
"The MILF is pushing for the establishment of a sub-state in areas dominated by Muslims with all the rights to benefit from the natural resources, including gas and oil.
"Among the areas the MILF wants to have control over is the Liguasan marshland in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
"Iqbal said the exploration of the gas and oil reserves in Muslim Mindanao without settling the ownership issue first would be adverse to the interests of our people. “I hope the government will consider our request in the interest of majority of our people,” he said.
"The MILF appeal came after the Department of Energy (DoE) extended the bidding deadline for the oil and gas blocks it offered to investors under the Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR)."
