Peoples’ Congress push for the enactment of the CAB-based BBL –Phil congress in quorum

Video File: Messages delivered by Mr. Bobby Beneto of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) 

and Dr. Jasmin Galace, one of the lead conveners of the All-out-peace. Emcees: Lyndee and Madi. 

(Video by Jun Enriquez)

Peoples’ Congress push for the enactment of the CAB-based BBL –Phil congress in quorum

By Jun Enriquez

Quezon City (December 15, 2015) – Peoples’ Congress called “Kongreso ng Sambayanan” was held in the Peace Bell at the Quezon City circle started at 10:00 O’clock in the morning. This action is a replica to counter the attitude of the House of Representatives on their negative treatment on the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the guise of the lack of quorum for almost four months. The BBL was a product of the 17 years of negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Reading of the People's congress declaration on BBL.

The peoples’ congress organized by the All-out-peace (AOP) was attended by the civil society organizations (CSOs) all over the country with at least 200 CSO leaders, and calling the attention of congress to approve the BBL which is compliant to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). The original version of the BBL drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) was submitted to office of the President in the middle of last year. The President submitted the said final draft to both houses of congress. The House of Representatives have created the ad hoc committee on BBL chaired by Congressman Rufus Rodriguez of the 2^nd district of Cagayan de Oro City, called House Bill (HB) 4994, and in the House of Senate was under the committee on Local government chaired by Senator Bongbong Marcos, called Senate Bill (SB) No. 2804. Later on both houses of congress changed the name of the Bill, HB No. 5811 and SB No. 2894, called the Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR) and considered it as a substitute Bill.

At right, Speaker of the People's congress presided the approval
of the declaration of the BBL compliant with CAB.

The peace advocates from the AOP expressed concerns that based on their study there were more than 22 provisions from the original version in the BBL were revised, and some were deleted mentioning among others, the control of the natural resources under the wealth sharing was exclusive for the Bangsamoro in the original draft of HB 4994 and SB 2804, but was transferred to the Reserved powers of the Central or National government in HB 5811 and SB 2894, which is not acceptable by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (M ILF).  Senator Marcos in a consultation conducted in Tubod, Lanao del Norte early this year expressed concern on the security issues on the control of resources as a national concern. A proposal was presented if it is possible for a win-win solution on concurrent powers shall be shared between the Bangsamoro government and national government when it comes to the development of natural resources. Other concerned provisions must be retained on its original form are the preamble and identity of the Bangsamoro, territory, governance, block grant and budget for the Autonomous region, devolution of constitutional bodies, among others.

At left, Violy Gloria and other members of the people's
congress approved the CAB compliant BBL. 

The peoples’ congress expressed their frustrations and condemned the majority of the members of congress of their absenteeism during sessions, especially during the deliberation of the BBL, a manifestation of neglect. In the Senate, Senator Marcos expressed concern not to divide the people to justify the changes of many of the provisions in the BBL in its original form resulted to the long delayed for the approval of the Bill.

Mass signing of the approved CAB compliant BBL by the
members of the people's congress.

The peoples’ congress in a statement said that the lawmakers should understand the purpose of the BBL. It was crafted including the people in the Bangsamoro collectively for the just and lasting peace for Mindanao. It was reiterated that the approve BBL should be consistent to the CAB and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB). The current situation of the substitute Bill, the BLBAR version, is not the answer for the quest of the Bangsamoro for their better future. The CSOs in Lanao del Norte in a community and provincial-wide consultation on the BBL during the Mindanao Week of Peace celebration in November to December 2015, participants form the Moro, Christians and Lumad expressed their voices that there is no other way for peace, BBL is the answer, if not otherwise. The passage of the BBL consistent with the CAB is a sign of respect to the people in the Bangsamoro.

Tri-people presentation of the signed declaration document by
the Moro, Christians and the Lumad (from right to left).

Mr. Bobby Beneto of the Mindanao People Caucus based in Davao City, said that the Bangsamoro people was treated as second class citizen in the country. He said until today they are suffering from the problems of discrimination, oppression, poverty and education. He said the BLBAR should be opposed because it will not address the problems of the Bangsamoro.  He said other countries look at the Philippines a small country but the people have problems of understanding each other. He said the Filipino and the Bangsamoro have common history in fighting against the colonizers in the past. Beneto said the Bangsamoro can also help the internal security problem in the country if having a mandate.  He said there is an ongoing recruitment of the extremist group especially the youth in Mindanao sympathetic to the ISIS in the Middle East problem and might spread all over the country. This group was called Khalifa Islamiya. Beneto said he did not scare the people and the government but he only informed about the progress of the situation, because the extremist group used the BBL as an issue. According to information, Khalifa Islamiya alleged that the BBL is a deception of the government against the Bangsamoro people. He said the MILF have no control on this group. He added that the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have already agreed through a covenant to support the BBL. Beneto appealed to congress and the government to approve the BBL compliant with the CAB.

Historic photo of the members of the people's congress.

The peoples’ congress declared the passage of the original version of the BBL consistent with the CAB and hoping that both houses of congress will also pass the same version compliant with the CAB for the better welfare of the people in the Bangsamoro in Mindanao and the country for Development, Just and Lasting Peace. The People’s congress was successfully ended at lunch time. The All-out-Peace network as the lead convener is composed of the initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), Center for Peace Education, Lanao Peace Partners (LPP), GENPEACE, BALAY, Women Peace Collective, CODE NGO, PILIPINA, Dinggin ang Kapayapaan, UNYPAD, PMPI, and many others. In a closing message, Dr. Jasmin Galace, convener of the All-out-Peace, said she was hoping that the BBL will be passed compliant with the CAB. If not, the All-out-peace will continue its work for peace in a non-violent way.

In Another development on the same day, the House of Representatives convened with a quorum of 186 congressmen attended the session. The roll call was made at around 7:00 O’clock in the evening. Buhay Party-list Congressman Lito Atienza reminded his colleagues that attendance should be based on physical presence during the entire period of the session. The congressional session was presided by Hon. Giogidi D. Aggabao, Deputy Speaker. The session had only discussed the BBL issue. There were two privilege speeches during the session by Hon. Belma A. Cabilao, district representative from the first district of Zamboanga Sibugay citing the atrocities happened in her place in the past few years, the reason of her opposition to the BBL. The second speaker was Hon. Pangalian Balindong, district representative of the 2^nd district of Lanao del Sur, in his speech pushed for the successful enactment of the BBL for the better lives of the Bangsamoro people for peace and development. 

Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, answered questions during the
interpellation in the plenary session in congress.

Hon. Rufus Rodriguez, district representative of the 2^nd district of Cagayan de Oro City, chairman of the Ad hoc committee on BBL was considered as the main sponsor of the BLBAR was subjected to interpellations by Hon. Aurora Enerio-Cerrilles, district representative of the 2^nd district, Zamboanga del Sur, and Hon. Gus S. Tambunting of the 2^nd district of Parañaque. The issues interpellated concerning the territory, plebiscite, wealth sharing, budget, among others. The said Bill is expected to be approved early next year. With photos by Violy Gloria.

Lanao celebrates Mindanao Week of Peace - BBL hardly push

Provincial-wide multi-sectoral consultation & dialogue with participants composed of community & sectoral leaders hard
pushed for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in congress. The lack of quorum in congress is one of the reasons of the delay on the passage of the BBL hardly criticized by the participants. The civil society is now questioning before the ombudsman against the absenteeism of the congressmen during sessions for almost 4 months.

Lanao celebrates Mindanao week of peace - BBL hardly push
By Jun Enriquez

Iligan City (Dec. 6, 2015)  – It is usual for the people in Lanao del Norte and Iligan City celebrates the Mindanao Week of Peace (MWoP) as explained by Mr. Musa Sanguila, Director of Pakigdait, Inc., during a press conference held November 25, 2015 at the Macboy beach resort, Bacolod, Lanao del Norte. Sanguila said former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation number 127 declaring from 2001 and every year thereafter that every last Thursday of November to first Wednesday of December is the Mindanao Week of Peace (MWoP) celebration. This year’s MWoP celebration falls on November 26 to December 2, bringing the theme “Sustaining the Gains of Our Peacebuilding.” Historically, years prior to the Proclamation in 2001, the MWoP celebration was conceptualized in 1997 by the Bishop-Ulama Forum composed of the Christians and Muslims religious leaders nationwide working for the just and lasting peace for Mindanao and later changed its name to Bishop-Ulama Conference.

Panel of speakers during the press conference from right to left,
Lt. Col. Doctolero, Musa Sanguila, Hon. Tawantawan & Bishop
Stephen Villaester of Anglican Chruch. 

This may recalled the major outbreak in Mindanao such as the all-out-war of President Erap in year 2000 was declared and started in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. Plenty of succeeding conflicts happened in the province including the all-out-war of President Arroyo in 2003, the offshoot of the memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) controversy in 2008. All of these conflicts affected the lives of the civilian community and felt the impact of devastation. The cost of war in Mindanao for the past decades started in the 1970s was estimated to 640 billion pesos damage to economy on business and properties. Armed conflict has caused almost 120,000 deaths among the Filipinos. The children are unable to go to school. it caused environmental destruction and the loss of sense of well-being and security. The all-out-war of 2000 in Mindanao alone displaced 982,000 people and another displacement of 600,000 people due to the sporadic atrocities of the peace process.

The members of the media posed with the panel of speakers 

The implementation of the 1996 peace agreement of the Government and MNLF continued in Lanao del Norte. This manifest the implementation of the  Payapa at Masaganang pamayanan (PAMANA) projects funded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), in conflict affected areas in the province amounted to at least half a billion pesos for the construction of farm-to-market roads, school buidlings, livelihood program and trainings, scholarship program for the children of the MNLF members and other rehabilitation program for the former MNLF combatants. Sanguila said that PAMANA projects is funded by the OPAPP, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Agriculture (DA). This also included the implementation of the Bottom-up-budgeting (BUB) projects from the National Anti-poverty Commission (NAPC) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as the lead agencies. In Iligan City, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is the only agency of the government implemented the BUB projects amounted to 8.0 Million mostly for livelihood projects in 2014.

Mr. Abel Moya of MPI facilitated an assessment workshop 
with the PAMANA beneficiaries. 

In the same press conference, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member, Hon. Tawantawan Cauntungan, committee chairman on public safety and order, and Vice chairman of the Task force “rido” or clan feud, Chairman, local monitoring team of the ceasefire mechanism of the GPH-MILF peace process, representing the office of the governor, said that the provincial government of Lanao del Norte is committed to maintain peace and order in the province, and unity among the Muslims and Christians for development. He said that the civil society organization is the most reliable partner in peace of the provincial government. Cauntungan said there were plenty of “rido” cases already resolved and still with lined up of cases still to be resolved.

Bishop Stephen Villaester, of the Anglican Church, the Chairman of the Interfaith council of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte, cited the philosophy of an Indian leader Mahatma Ghandi and said “the resources of the earth is more than enough to fill everybody’s needs, but it is not enough to fill everybody’s greed.” He said if we talk on peace it should start in our heart. He said the Interfaith council for peace in Mindanao is composed of Islam, and different Christian religions including the Catholic church are united in the name of peace. Bishop Villaester said that the Interfaith council will not give up on BBL because they believed that it is an instrument of God or Allah for the just and lasting peace in Mindanao

Participants of the BBL community consultation & dialogue in
Munai, Lanao del Norte.

Lt. Col. Leomar Jose Doctolero, in his message during the conference said that the Philippine Army is working with the different stakeholders in achieving a common goal, the just and lasting for Lanao del Norte. The Military continued their efforts to implement Bayanihan program by conducting capacity building for the youth and children, youth peace summit, youth leadership trainings, sports for peace, so that they will become good citizens and achieve peace in the localities. Doctolero said that the Philippine Army will remain steadfast in their commitment to help maintain the peace and order in the province. He said that the Philippine Army in the past wanted to win the war but now they are trying to win the peace. He said helping and cooperation with each other is very important to win the peace through Bayanihan.

Participants of the BBL community consultation & dialogue in
Balo-i, Lanao del Norte. At left, Ryan Rosauro, MCSOPP
Coordinator.

The organized civil societies nationwide in general and in Lanao del Norte and Iligan City in particular, until today exerted all efforts and continue their campaign for the ALL-OUT-PEACE for the just and lasting for Mindanao and support the continued peace process. The formal peace talks between the GPH and MILF has ended it’s the 17 years of negotiations upon the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB) in 2014. One of the challenges is the approval of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress which is CAB compliant and flexible to the constitution, which purpose is to heal the wounds of history and achieve peace and progress for Mindanao and the Filipino nation as a whole.  It was believed that the BBL is the only hope for the just and lasting peace in Mindanao.

Just recently the civil society in Mindanao reacted on the slow paced and long delay of the BBL in congress. the Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace (CSO-FP), in partnership with the Mindanao CSO Plaform for Peace (MCSOPP) and Maranao People Development Center (MARADECA), have conducted series of community consultations & dialogues on the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Lanao del Norte including Iligan City. Originally the BBL was crafted and submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) to Malacanang, then Malacanang submitted it to both houses in congress for legislation sometime in August 2014, and it was registered as House Bill No. 4994 and Senate Bill 2804. However, both houses of congress changed the name and numbers of the Bill, it is now House Bill No. 5811 and Senate Bill 2894, called the Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR). 

Provincial wide consultation & dialogue held in Iligan Cty,
attended by the tri-people, the Christians, Muslims & Lumad.
during the prayer, at left, Higaonon Datu Vergo Sangcoan of
Rogongon, at center is Ustaj Camar Alumpo of Tangkal, Lanao
del Norte & at right is Mrs. Hazel Zafra from Maigo, Lanao del
Norte.

The BBL as it may, will replace Republic Act (RA) 9054, also known as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).  Many of the important provisions of the BBL were deleted and found out that its quality is poorer than the existing RA 9054. Information gathered that the BLBAR diluted the BBL and if passed is not acceptable by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro people. The BLBAR still pending in congress and peace advocates nationwide continued its consultations and dialogues with the people in Mindanao and lobbying in congress to reconsider the original form of the BBL with compromise proposal. The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamro (CAB) are backbone to continue the struggle of the MILF and Bangsamoro people whoever will be the next President. With reports & photos by Malyne D. Gungob.