MAGUINDANAO - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said they were quite impressed with President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

According to Murad, Duterte's SONA was comprehensive and the President's plans for the coming years were clear.

"Focused sa kung anong gagawin niya. We are quite impressed although yung manner of delivery informal pero maganda naman kasi using the language ng common people," said Murad.

The Moro leader also appreciated that the peace talks was mentioned by the President in his speech. Duterte said the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) should be passed minus the unconstitutional provisions.

Murad said they will now focus on the process of how to determine the unconstitutional provisions within the BBL and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

But for him, everything in the CAB is constitutional.

"Kasi na-subject ito sa maraming review, may legal team ang gobyerno seeing na maging constitutional then sa BTC [Bangsamoro Transition Commission] rin may legal group na nakatutok sa constitutionality and also subject sa legal team ng Office of the President. Na-review ito and even yung mga author ng Constitution nagsasabi na wala namang violation, so ang tingin namin ay kailangan pagkasunduan kung paano ma-process na malaman na unconstitutional, patutukan namin ang proseso," Murad added.

He also said only the Supreme Court (SC) has the power to declare whether it is unconstitutional or not.

READ: Duterte OKs peace roadmap with rebel groups

Meanwhile, Murad said they are open to adjustments or minor changes in the peace process.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said during his visit in Camp Darapanan last Thursday that he will no longer call it as Bangsamoro Basic Law since it failed to pass as a law in the previous administration.

"He was saying 'enabling law'. Sa amin, walang problema kung ano itatawag dito, flexible naman. Pero natanong ko rin siya what will be the working paper. Sabi niya, we will start kung BBL yun na, kaya lang ngayon enabling law but this will be finalized," Murad said.

Also, instead of "negotiating panel," the term "implementation team" will be adopted.

The MILF's central committee is set to have a meeting to finalize the team's leader and members. Mohagher Iqbal will still be the panel's chair.

CONVERGENCE WITH MNLF

Murad said they support the idea of convergence with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). In fact, they already have been working with the MNLF through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"May resolution noon ang OIC na magkakaroon ng BCF, Bangsamoro Coordinating Forum, na ang task is mag-harmonize sa dalawang peace process, so starting from there, nagkaroon na kami ng paguusap sa MNLF para magkaroon na ng convergence yung agreement and with the Sema faction also ng MNLF we have already created yung technical working group na yun din ang

task--to harmonize," he said.

"Siguro sa process lang kung paano gagawin itong convergence ng two agreements dahil mayroon naman naipresenta ang OPAPP sa amin na roadmap. Itong roadmap on the process, fina-finalize yung sa hard copy."

A representative from the MNLF will be appointed to sit as part of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), together with representatives from the indigenous community, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other sectors.

"Sa amin wala namang problema doon dahil unang-una yung BTC the composition ay majority ang MILF. Ang magiging arrangement, 8 MILF at bahala na ang gobyerno," said Murad.

READ: Gov't posts reserved for MILF, MNLF members: Duterte

STRONG POLITICAL WILL

One of the advantages that the MILF leadership sees in the present administration is that the President has strong political will, according to Murad.

"Kaya titingnan natin itong peace process, one of his main concerns kahit nung campaign pa siya lang. Kung talagang he will continue to push, I think there's a good chance," he said.

It is also a good point that Duterte is a Mindanaoan, Murad added. That's why the President understands the struggles of the Moro people and the century-long conflict in parts of Mindanao.

"One, he is very popular, he had a [trust] rating of 91%, very strong political capital. Pangalawa, may attachment siya sa problem ng Moro, even claiming may blood na Moro. He is Mindanaoan, he replied sa historical injustices ng Moro. Yung optimism natin nadedevelop, it's just a matter of defining the partnership," said Murad.

Murad directed all the Bangsamoros to continue waiting and to strengthen their patience and once again give peace another chance.

"Sa MILF, abide by the guidelines, give chance sa peace process, huwag padalos-dalos. We know may mga masama ang loob but kailangan ng patience. Hindi tayo tumitigil. We are moving, gumagawa ng paraan para ma-achieve," he said.