Bangon Pilipinas Party presidential candidate Bro. Eddie Villanueva has signed a covenant with the people of Mindanao to seriously pursue the establishment of a federal form of government in the region.

Bro. Eddie stressed the covenant commits Bangon Pilipinas to work for ironclad guarantees for economic justice for Mindanao and the pursuit of the peace process.

The signing of the covenant by Villanueva, his running mate lawyer Perfecto Yasay, and Bangon senatorial candidates was witnessed by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) spokesperson Eid Kabalu.

Bro. Eddie pledged to pursue full autonomy for the region and gives it the right to self-determination within the framework of the Constitution.

Full autonomy grants the people of Mindanao greater leeway in the development and utilization of its water, mineral and agricultural resources and gives substance to the demand of all other political movements for a greater share of government revenues.

Sources close to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) also welcomed the covenant, stressing “it hews closely to the demand of the Bangsa Moro for its just share of resources long denied the people of Mindanao.”

Latest statistics show that Mindanao ’s share of all government revenues runs to more than 30 percent but the budgetary allocation for the region on an annual basis is 19 percent at most.

With the covenant, Mindanao would be guaranteed a fair share to intensify economic development and improve medical, health, educational and social services.

“In the long term, Bangon Pilipinas commits to call for a Constitutional Convention to submit, propose and support the adoption of the federal form of government as a final and permanent solution to the pursuit of peace and progress in Mindanao,” the covenant said.

Once a Constitutional Convention affirms a federal form of government in Mindanao , the draft Constitution will be submitted to a national plebiscite for ratification.

Although the party said it recognizes the need for a federal form of government in Mindanao, the region “will always be a part of the Philippine Republic.”