By Jun Enriquez
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| President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivered a message at the Bangsamoro Assembly. |
Cagayan
de Oro City – Just recently, the Saving Lives Movement (SLM) composed of Civil
Society Organizations (CSOs) in Lanao areas including Cagayan de Oro City
gathered here at Balay Mindanao conference hall on January 4-5, and discussed
among others concerning the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro basic law (BBL),
a long dream for lasting peace in Mindanao despite the many obstacles that
spoils the peace process. The gathering
of CSOs was an interfaith of Muslims, Christians and the Lumads, looking at how
they can help to sustain the gains of peace for Mindanao. The interfaith peace
movement strongly supports the passage of the BBL and expressed concerns and
apprehensions on the impact of the extended Martial Law for one year in
Mindanao. Federalism was also discussed as a separate political issue. The SLM is pushing for the BBL first before federalism.
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| the SLM conference at Balay Mindanao, CDO |
During
the “Panagtagbo sa Kalinaw,” (convergence of peace), December 7 last year in
commemoration to culminate the Mindanao Week of Peace (MWOP) held in Linamon,
Lanao del Norte, attended by the students and teachers, government employees
and officials, CSOs, Police and Military and other stakeholders. Commissioner
Said Sheik of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) in his message said
that the BBL is antidote to violent extremism that must be approved, to give
flesh on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). Sheik said the
BBL is the hope and future of the Bangsamoro people to exercise their
right-to-self-determination, not for independence but for the enhancement of
Bangsamoro Autonomy which is above or more than the present Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Fr. Chito Suganob, the Prelature of Marawi, also
present during the celebration, who became hostage for 116 days since the start
of the Marawi siege in May last year. He said that war is very much monstrous and evil, it kills
people and displaces the community. Fr. Suganob said that his survival is God’s
will to continue advocating peace.
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| At right, Rev. Fr. Chito Suganob in his revelations |
In a
CSOs peace conference in Davao City of the All-out-peace (AOP) group on
November 21-22 last year convened by the Institute for International Dialogue (IID),
invited Atty. Benny Bacani of the Institute for Autonomy and Governance, as one
of the speakers to articulate the status of the BBL. Bacani said that the BBL
was not endorsed by the President as a priority bill which has four versions
in congress, 3 versions in the House of Representatives (HoR) and one version
in the Senate, that will be subject for consolidation. Bacani said the BTC
submitted the final draft BBL to the office of the Presidential Adviser on the
Peace process (OPAPP) and endorsed the said document to the HoR through House
Speaker Alvarez the BTC version without OPAPP conducting review or any changes
from it. The BTC version BBL is based on the Comprehensive Agreement on the
Bangsamoro (CAB). Bacani said the BBL is Asymmetrical which has different
powers from the Local government. He said any provision in the BBL which is out
of the constitution must be brought to court not arms to resolve peacefully.
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| The AOP conference in Davao City |
During
the Bangsamoro Assembly held November 27 last year, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
affirmed his strong political will to provide solution to the Bangsamoro struggle in
front of the huge crowd at the Bangsamoro Assembly, delivered his keynote address to
the million-strong attendees held at the Old Provincial Capitol
complex in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. In his 30-minute speech, President
Duterte reassured the hopes of the Bangsamoro dream, "The dream of the
moro people was just to retain what they had, I will work very hard for it, I
will ask Congress for special session, just to give you this" Duterte
said, referring to the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
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| The Bangsamoro Assembly |
The
assembly also convened the top leaders of the two moro revolutionary groups -
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front
(MNLF) with thousands of their supporters showing support of the smooth passage
of the BBL. MILF Chairman Alhaj Murad Ebrahim expressed his desire of the
transition of the revolutionary group he leads into a social movement.
"From fortification of camps with arms, we venture into the development of
our communities with new sets of learned skills and prepare the leadership from
a revolutionary mindset into transformative leaders and managers" he said.
Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF First Vice Chairman and BTC Chairman read the manifesto
of the assembly and appealed to the President for the immediate passage of the
BBL.
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| MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim |
ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said he
is one with the rest of the Bangsamoro on its fight for self-determination.
"Hindi ako pumunta dito para makisimpatya, nandito po ako dahil kasama
niyo ako sa laban na ito" Hataman said. Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra Sema, aside
from telling the big role the congress plays in the BBL, also called for unity
in the midst of the Bangsamoro diversity. Regardless of ethnic tribe, "we
are here as one people demanding the resolution of conflict by passing the
BBL" she said. Congresswoman Ruby M. Sahili, Governors Toto Mangudadatu
and Lala Taliño-Mendoza of Maguindanao and North Cotabato respectively, were
among the several local high ranking leaders who graced the event and expressed
their strong support towards the BBL.With reports & photos by Liz Miso of Cotabato City.
