The Senate Local Government Committee conducts on Monday its penultimate hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) with representatives of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, and the indigenous peoples (IPs) invited to express their views and concerns on the controversial peace measure.
“We want to know the sentiments of the sultanates about BBL. From what we learned in our recent hearings, they said they were never consulted in the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the (secessionist) Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that would be implemented through the BBL,” said Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., committee chairman.
“Unless BBL addresses the concerns of the majority of the stakeholders, and not just those of the MILF, I’m afraid we will not be able to realize our dream of a lasting peace in Muslim Mindanao,” Marcos added.
Marcos said the last hearing set for June 3 would focus on concerns of local executives in areas to be included as core territories of the Bangsamoro under the BBL, as well as in adjacent local government units (LGUs).
Among the guests in Monday’s hearing include Esmail Kiram II, who was installed as the Sultan of Sulu in 2013 following the death of his predecessor Jamalul Kiram III, as well as representatives of sultanates in other areas of Mindanao.
Also invited in the Monday hearing are representatives from indigenous peoples of Mindanao.
“For centuries, the IPs have been living in their respective communities in Mindanao, with a culture, tradition, and language distinct from Muslim inhabitants. We have to ensure too that the rights of the IPs are recognized and protected under the BBL,” Marcos said.
The Marcos committee conducted last week a hearing for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the first Moro rebel group that renounced armed struggle and signed peace pacts with the Philippine government, including the 1976 Tripoli Agreement and the 1996 Jakarta Agreement.
During the hearing, several MNLF leaders expressed concern they were left out in the cold during the BBL negotiations.
Manila Bulletin
