‘BJE’ no longer in use

This is in reference to the story “MILF on peace: ‘We’re almost there’” (Inquirer, 9/5/12) which was also published online at https://newsinfo.inquirer.net.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) clarifies that “BJE” or “Bangsamoro Juridical Entity,” as a term, is no longer used in the current peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The two now discuss a “new political entity” or NPE.

Moreover, Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, the presidential adviser on the peace process, did not issue any statement, and neither did she discuss in an interview, that—and we quote from the Inquirer news report—“Deles said a plebiscite would be held to complete the process of replacing ARMM with BJE. A rejection by the people of the BJE in a plebiscite, however, would send the talks back to square one.”

We hope the publication of this letter will give Inquirer readers a better understanding of the current peace process in Mindanao.

—POLLY MICHELLE CUNANAN,

spokesperson and

communications unit director,

Office of the Presidential Adviser

on the Peace Process