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.