EDITORIAL – The Bangsamoro vote

He was trailing in the latest Pulse Asia Survey released last week in a tie for second place with administration bet Mar Roxas at 21 percent. However, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte—considered by many as the man from Mindanao with the best chance of winning the presidency, continued to make the significant progress in his campaign.
Mayor Duterte bagged the support of a vital component of the Bangsamoro people when he was formally endorsed by the Moro National Liberation Front headed by former University of the Philippines professor and ARMM Governor Nur Misuari.
Misuari told his men in Kidapawan City that Mayor Duterte is the one who is really fighting for the Bangsamoro people in Mindanao.
“Duterte is very vocal in peace negotiations with the Bangsamoro people,” said Misuari who believed the the tough-talking Mayor of Davao is the last hope for Mindanao.
Duterte has signified in many fora that with the failure of the government in putting in place the BBL, he is calling for a more wholistic transformation to Federalism where Misuari’s MNLF territory in the island of Mindanao won’t be left behind.
It’s a small crowd to consider—about 500 men from the MNLF. So unlike the sorties of the administration bet what with the use of government resources in tow. But Duterte may have made the most significant progress right after last week’s survey results. Afterall, the man has decided to push his campaign sans all the breastbeating and the hoopla, overcoming his team’s handicap in machinery and election kitty.
By far, Duterte has made the more aggressive moves-talking to the CPP-NPA, MILF, and the MNLF. It’s a journey to peace —relatively silent but sincere.