Solons apprehensive BBL will lead to break up of cities, provinces

Even as government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) negotiators stressed that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will not lead to the country’s breakup, some lawmakers on Wednesday expressed apprehension that the manner of territorial expansion provided in the bill will lead to the fragmentation of certain cities and provinces.

Iligan City Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr. sought clarification regarding Section 3 of Article 3, which lays down the guidelines for the inclusion of contiguous territories in the envisioned Bangsamoro core territory.

Section 3 states: “The areas which are contiguous and outside the core territory may opt at anytime to be part of the territory upon petition of at least 10 percent of the registered voters and approved by a majority of qualified votes cast in a plebiscite.”

“Why does it state here (Section 3) that the petition can be done anytime? There are seven barangays that are presently contiguous to the Bangsamoro core territory. Supposing they launch a petition to become part of the Bangsamoro? In effect we’ll be dismembering Iligan City,” he said.

Government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said portions of Iligan City will only have a chance to become part of the proposed Bangsamoro territory if “there is significant interest among the people of Iligan.”

“It won’t happen if the people don’t wish to be included,” she said.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said the inclusion of Section 3 in the Bangsamoro bill was based on “a sense of hope” that areas contiguous to the envisioned Bangsamoro territory may want to become part of it in the future.

“If the Bangsamoro works well, maybe the contiguous territories will want to be a part of it. Should we stop that? Why are we going to close the door?” she asked.

Article II Section 2 states that the Bangsamoro core territory will be composed of the following areas:

• the present areas of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM);
• the cities of Cotabato and Isabela;
• the municipalities of Baloi, Munao, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan at Tangkal in the province of Lanao del Norte that voted for the incldusion in the ARMM at the 2001 plebiscite;
• the barangays in the municipalities of Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigcawayan, Pikit and Midsayap in the province of (North) Cotabato, that voted for the inclusion in the ARMM at the 2001 plebiscite; and
• all other contiguous areas where there is a resolution of the local government unit or a petition of at least 10 percent of the qualified voters in the area asking for their inclusion at least two months prior to the conduct of the ratification of the BBL. If the votes for inclusion to the Bangsamoro reach a majority, then the said area will be included in the Bangsamoro territory.

Social volcano

Palawan Rep. Frederick Abueg also expressed opposition to the possible inclusion of the province in the proposed Bangsamoro entity but was assured by the GPH panel that it is excluded from the core territory.

Abueg recently filed a resolution directing the ad hoc panel to exclude Puerto Princesa City and the entirety of Palawan from the proposed Bangsamoro entity.

Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Cerilles said that while she is not against peace, she is opposed to the BBL because the law will just divide Mindanao and “lead to a social volcano.”

Cerilles scored the GRP and MILF panels for failing to conduct “genuine consultations,” saying there has not been a lot of information disseminated over the contents of the comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro, which was the basis for drafting the BBL.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, however, refuted Cerilles’ claims, saying negotiators conducted “extensive consultations” with stakeholders and even paid courtesy calls to local leaders.

According to Mary Ann Arnado of the Mindanao Civil Society Organizations Platform for Peace, at least 646 consultations were held in various parts of Mindanao from October 2013 to March 2014.

Impression of rebellious people

To ensure that the passage of the Bangsamoro law will not lead to the breakup of the Philippine Republic, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga proposed amending the Bangsamoro bill to render any secessionist actions illegal.

Barzaga’s suggestion, however, was staunchly opposed by Anak Mindanao Representative Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, who said the statement against secessionism is no longer needed since it was already stated in the bill that the Bangsamoro will remain part of the Philippines.

“I find it a little offensive. It proceeds from the impression that we are a rebellious people,” Hataman said.

Deles said that while Congress is free to adopt Barzaga’s proposal, she would prefer that the statement not be included because it questions the motives of the proposed law.

She added that granting autonomy to the Bangsamoro is not equivalent to independence.

“It’s clear that the sovereignty will remain with the central government although autonomy will be given to the Bangsamoro people,” Deles said.

Barzaga eventually withdrew his motion to introduce the amendment to the draft BBL. — BM, GMA News