COTABATO CITY – Decades of running a revolutionary government trained “a few” Moro Islamic Liberation Front members to become “God-fearing” leaders of the proposed Bangsamoro government, the group’s vice chairman, Ghadzali Jaafar, said Sunday.

“Mas mahirap i-govern ang revolution sapagkat ‘yung mga tao na kasama sa revolution hindi sinusuwelduhan ng gobyerno ng revolution,” Jaafar told ABS-CBN News on the eve of the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which will create a new autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao.

(It was more difficult to govern a revolution because the members did not have salaries.)

Jaafar refused to name the members they are eyeing to become possible leaders in the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but he said these people were not only God-fearing but also “righteous” leaders.

The proposed Bangsamoro autonomous government will take a parliamentary-democratic form, and MILF members, under a political party, may run for several seats in the parliament, leaving behind their guns as they transition from armed struggle to governance.

In fact, the MILF has already formed and registered a political party called the United Bangsamoro Justice Party a few years back.

“Modesty aside, we have produced a few God-fearing and righteous leaders among the MILF. Konti lamang, hindi masyadong marami pero sa tingin namin ay puwede na ang dami nila. They can be leaders of the Bangsamoro government,” Jaafar said.

(They may be few but we believe they are enough to be leaders of the Bangsamoro government.)

The MILF official added that entering the mainstream government will not at all be too different for their members because they have been following democratic processes within the group since they were founded after breaking away from the Moro National Liberation Front.

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He said in the MILF, some of the future leaders were trained as they lead different committees on education, finance, dawah, information, and justice among others. All issues were resolved in democratic processes with the central committee.

“Habang binabalangkas ang isang policy, hindi maiwasan na may hindi sasang-ayon sa ideas ng nag-propose. Sine-settle namin ‘yan sa pamamagitan ng dialogue, persuasion, and compromise. ‘Yan ang pinakamabisang paraan,” he said.

(When a policy is being made, you can’t avoid someone opposing ideas of the one who proposed. We settle it by dialogue, persuasion, and compromise—the best way to address these conflicts.)

The landmark Bangsamoro law was the culmination of decades of peace negotiations between the government and the MILF. More than 2 million voters will decide on the fate of the Bangsamoro law in a plebiscite on January 21 and February 6, according to the Commission on Elections.

The first day of the plebiscite is for the voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cotabato City, and Isabela City in Basilan. The second one will for those in Lanao del Norte towns—except for Iligan City—and North Cotabato villages.

The Bangsamoro law is facing tough opposition in Cotabato where the mayor has been actively campaigning against the city’s inclusion in the proposed autonomous region. Despite this, Jaafar is confident that the city, his hometown, will vote yes for Bangsamoro.

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Asked if the city says no to the Bangsamoro Organic Law, he said the MILF will respect the decision because this is part of democracy. But he hopes those who oppose the law will respect the decision if the city says yes.