bbl in senate | hearing on issues of sultanates, ips in the bbl, may 25, 2015

Republic of the Phi l ippines CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

S E N A T E Pasay City

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE

COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION;

AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES

DATE : Monday, May 25, 2015 TIME : 9:30 a.m. VENUE : Sen. Claro M. Recto and

Sen. Jose P. Laurel Rooms 2nd Floor, Senate of the Philippines

Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard Pasay City

AGENDA : Discussion/Deliberation of Senate Bill No. 2408

An Act Providing for the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro and Abolishing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Repealing for the Purpose Republic Act No. 9054, entitled An Act to Strengthen and Expand the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Republic Act No. 6734, entitled An Act Providing for an Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and for Other Purposes (Introduced by Senators Franklin M. Drilon, Vicente C. Sotto III, Loren Legarda, Ralph G. Recto, Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay, Francis G. Escudero, Paolo Benigno Bam Aquino IV, Sonny Angara, Pia S. Cayetano, Gregorio B. Honasan II and Teofisto Guingona III)

A T T E N D A N C E

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Committee on Local Government Joint with the Committees on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation; and Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes Monday, May 25, 2015 Page 2

SENATORS PRESENT: HON. FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR. - Chairman, Committee on

Local Government HON. LOREN B. LEGARDA - Member HON. ALAN PETER S. CAYETANO - Member HON. FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO - Member GUESTS/RESOURCE PERSONS: Hon. Jose Y. Lorena - Undersecretary, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Atty. Mary Grace Ellen Villanueva- Executive Director, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center Mr. Alim Bandara - Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG) Mr. Leticio Datuwata - Deputy Supreme Chieftain, TJG Datu Roldan Burunay Babelon- GenSec, IPs Gempa te Kelindaan ne Kamal ne Erumanen ne Menuvu Ms. Beatriz Apotanan Colmo- Alternate Chair, Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Peace Forum Mr. Timuay Gumbalia Gunsi - Vice-President on External Affairs, Organization of Teduray and Lambangian Conference (OTLAC) Mr. Arnel Garcia - Humanitarian Counsel, Sulu Foundation of Nine Ethnic Tribes (SUFONETI) Sultan Esmail Kiram II - Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo Datu Abraham Idjirani - Secretary General, - do Atty. Meltino Sibulan - Legal Counsel, - do Sultan Venizar Julkarnain - Royal House of Patikul, - do Jainal Abirin Datu Albi Dakula Julkarnain - Chairman, Council of Royal

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Datus, - do Princess Sitti Liddy Taedo - Council of Royal Ladies, - do Sultan Venizar Julkarnain - Royal House of Patikul, - do Jainal Abirin Habib Mudjahab Hashim - Chairman, Council of Royal Sharif, - do Sultan Dr. Ibrahim Bahjin- - Paramount Sultan, - do Shakirullah II Dayang Dayang Derhana - Royal Princess, - do Julkarnain Hashim Sultan Melchor G. Chavez - Spokesperson, Sultanate of Sulu Sultan Atty. Rico S. Pelandoc - Vice-President, Iranun Sultanates League of the Philippines Datu Lihondo Adam - Royal House of Maharadjah Tabunaway II Hadji Datu Moustafa-Tapa - Spokesman and Chief Technical B. Umal Assistant of His Majesty Sultan Abdulazis Salem Mastura V, Sultanate of Maguindanao Putri Bai Marieta Nor-Aisha - President/Chairman/ P. Mindalano-Adam, Al Haj Chief Executive Officer, Royal House of Maharadjah Tabunaway Engr. Datu Noldin Oyod - Datu sa Taviran of Maguindanao Sultanate Fintailan Jocelyn S. Palao - Chairwoman, Womens Organization of Rajah Mamalu Descendants Prof. Engeong Bulang - Mandanaue Darussalam, Sultanate of Maguindanao Mr. Archie U. Buaya - Confederated Descendants of Rajah Mamalu Datu Yldon Kiram - Sultanate of Sulu Archipelago Sultan Muedzul-Lail Kiram - - do Mr. Mohamad Linas - Royal House of Maharadjah Mamalu Sultan Muijaddin Jainal Abirin - Royal House of Patikul, Sulu

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Bahjin Datu Alihanapia Jainal Abirin - - do Datu Hadji Shakiruddin - Crown Prince, - do Ulom Bahjin Mr. Edtami P. Mansayagan - Member, Executive Committee, Lumad Mindanao Peoples Federation Datu Alexander Mama-o - Sultanate of Bayang, Lanao del Sur Atty. Meltino Sibulan - United Tausug People of the Sultanate of Sulu Atty. Michael Mastura - Former Congressman, 1st District of Maguindanao SENATORS STAFF: Atty. Minda D. Lavarias - O/S Marcos Ms. Shiela Mae P. Enriquez - - do Ms. Honey Rose Mercado - - do Ms. Arifah M. Jamil - - do Ms. Candice Y. Cerezo - O/S Escudero Mr. Ronnie Calumpita - - do Mr. Mark Robert Dy - O/S Guingona Mr. Johd Carlos - O/S A. Cayetano Atty. Marge Alias - - do Mr. Calil Dimangadap - - do Atty. Rachel Herrera - O/S Legarda Mr. Dominil Lacbayo - - do Ms. Sally Perez - - do Ms. Zheanne Aeson M. Danns- O/S P. Cayetano Ms. Margie Manlunas - O/S Angara Ms. Kristela Castronuevo - O/S Recto

Mr. Alemar Mosquito - - do Ms. Marla Katrina Carandang - O/S Trillanes Mr. Claro Sampaga - O/S Osmea Ms. Ma. Clarissa Lopez - O/S Binay

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Mr. Ricardo Calimag - - do Ms. Julie Tuazon - O/S Honasan Ms. Jinnelle Iluzada - - do SENATE SECRETARIAT:

Ms. Assumption Ingrid B. Reyes - Committee Secretary, Committee on Local Government

Mr. Elpidio H. Calica, MNSA - Committee Secretary, Committee on Peace, Unification and

Reconciliation Ms. Cristina D.C. Astrero - Committee Stenographer

Ms. Helen S. Gayapa - - do Ms. Christine M. Nery - - do Ms. Carolina F. Driz - - do Ms. Cleofe P. Caturla - - do Ms. Ma. Rosalinda J. Catadman- - do Ms. Avigail G. Andaya - Legislative Staff Ms. Ana Marie F. Deplomo - - do Mr. Daniel D. Diamzon - - do Ms. Mylene R. Palino - - do Ms. Laarni C. Vidal - Legislative Page Mr. Mary Jeanette L. Padilla - - do Mr. Eric Jalandoon - - do

Mr. Ronnie Cabaero - Supervising Legislative Page Mr. Benjamin Oria - OSAA Mr. Lito Bancifra - - do Mr. Jose G. Busalpa Jr. - Audio Operator Mr. Roland D. Laureano - - do

(For complete list, please see attached Attendance Sheet.)

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CDAstrero I-1 May 25, 2015 10:26 a.m. 1

AT 10:26 A.M., HON. FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR., CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CALLED THE HEARING TO ORDER.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Good morning, ladies and

gentlemen.

The hearing of the Committee on Local Government joint with

the Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation and the

Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes of 25

May 2015 is hereby called to order.

Our agenda for today isI will not read the lengthy title. I will

just say that this is about the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law in its

version as it has been transmitted to the Houses of Congress by the

Executive.

For the record, I would like to acknowledge the presence of our

resource persons who are here today: representing OPAPP is Usec

Jose Lorena; the Executive Director of the Legal Rights and Natural

Resources Center, Atty. Mary Grace Ellen Villanueva, good morning;

from the Timuay Justice and Governance, Mr. Alim Bandara, good

morning; also from Timuay Justice and Governance, Mr. Leticio

Datuwata; from the Gempa te Kelindaan ne Kamal ne Erumanen ne

MenuvuI hope I pronounced that properlyDatu Roldan Burunay

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CDAstrero I-1 May 25, 2015 10:26 a.m. 2 Babelon, good morning; from the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Peace

Forum, Ms. Beatriz Apotanan Colmo; the Vice Chairman of the

External Affairs of the Organization of Teduray and Lambangian

Conference, Mr. Timuay Gumballa Gunsi, good morning; from the Sulu

Foundation of Nine Ethnic Tribes or SUFONETI, Mr. Arnel Garcia; the

Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sultan Esmail Kiram II; the Secretary

General Abraham Idjirani; Council of Royal Datus Datu Albi Julkarnain;

from the Council of Royal Ladies, Princess Sitti Liddy Taedo; Legal

Counsel, Atty. Meltino Sibulan; Chairman of Council of Royal Sharif,

Habib Mudjahab Hashim, good morning; Royal House of Patikul,

Sultanate of Sulu, Sultan Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin; Princess

Jacel Kiram-Hasan; Atty. Michael Mastura of the Sultanate of

Maguindanao who is here to assist us; Sultan Ibrahim BadjinSultan,

good morning; Sultan Muedzul-Lail Kiram; the Royal Spokesperson,

His Royal Highness Sultan of the Sultanate of Sulu, North Borneo and

Sabah, Melchor G. Chavez; the Vice-President of the Iranun Sultanates

League of the Philippines, Atty. Rico Pelandoc; Royal House of

Maharadjah Tabunaway, Datu Lihondo Adam, good morning; the

Spokesman and Chief Technical Assistant who represents His Majesty,

Sultan Abudalazis Salem Mastura V, Hadji Datu Moustafa-Tapa B.

Umal, good morning; the President/Chairman/CEO of the Royal House

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CDAstrero I-1 May 25, 2015 10:26 a.m. 3 of Maharadjah Tabunaway, His Royal Highness Putri Bai Marieta

Nor-Aisha P. Mindalano-Adam, Al Haj; Datu sa Taviran of Maguindanao

Sultanate, Engr. Datu Noldin Oyod; Chairwoman, Womens

Organization of Rajah Mamalu Descendants, Fintailan Jocelyn Palao;

the Sultanate of Maguindanao, Mandanaue Darussalam, Professor

Engeong Bulang; Representative of Consortium of Youth Bangsamoro

Organization, Archie Buaya, good morning; from the Sultanate of the

Sulu Archipelago, Datu Yldon Kiram; Putri Bai of Maharadjah

Tabunaway of Mindanao Darussalam President/CEO of MTDCPI, Royal

Highness Putri Bai Marieta Nor-Aisha Mindalano; and from the Royal

House of Maharadjah Mamalu, Mohamad Linas; the Council of Royal

Sharif Dayang Dayang Derhana Hashim.

Is there anyone else that is

VOICE. I would like to acknowledge the presence of Sultan

Muijaddin Bahjin of Patikul, Sulu; the Crown Prince, Datu Hadji

Shakiruddin Ulom Bahjin which you gave the invitation; and also the

Wazir of the Patikul Sultanate, Datu Alihanapia Jainal Abirin. These are

from the Royal House of Patikul Sulu, the real Royal House of Patikul,

Sulu.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). So, Sultan Jainal Abirin and

Sultan Muijaddin Bahjin and Datu Ulom Bahjin, Sultanate of Sulu.

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I think that makes complete the acknowledgement of all of those

that have been invited as resource persons today.

I would just like to open by making a few comments. The

reason that we have undertaken this hearing today is as a result of the

shocking revelation that the sultanates of Mindanao had not been

consulted during any of the negotiations between OPAPP and MILF.

And that is why it would seem that if the BBL or the Bangsamoro

government will be successful, it would need the support of all of the

sultanates. And it is, I think, a glaring omission that the sultanates

had not been consulted and we are trying to rectify that situation by

asking the sultans themselves and the representatives of the different

sultanates to come to the Senate today to give us their views, their

comments, their opinions on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

This is part of a series of hearings that this Committee is undertaking

for the specific purpose of giving voice to those stakeholders on the

Bangsamoro issue specifically the Bangsamoro Basic Lawgive voice

to their opinions so that we, in the Committee and in the Senate, will

be allowed a complete view of the issues that are impacting upon what

we are trying to do, the peace process and BBL. So, very well.

I beg your pardon. I have not acknowledged the arrival of

Senator Chiz Escudero.

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Just to explain, generally, the conduct of these hearings are

quite simple. It is important for the Committee/cda

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES HSGayapa II-1 May 25, 2015 10:36 a.m. 1

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). It is important for the

Committee to be able to hear the opinions rather than to debate with

our resource persons on the different issues. So, what we shall do?

There are many of you who have sent us a position paper and I would

like to allow all of the different sultanates and groups and eventually

after a while we will also talk to the indigenous peoples because,

again, they have been left out of the process and after all the

indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of the Bangsamoro

areas before any of us here had arrived in that place.

So, I would like now to, as I said, go through the position

papers. It is more important, I think, that the Committee is able to

hear from all of those who have an opinion, who have some insights

into this question be given a chance.

So, with that, we will try to hold off, we will try to keep our

questions to a minimum after your presentation so that we do not

delay those who come afterwards. But inevitably, you can expect that

we will have many things to ask. But, again, we will try to be brief so

that we can get through all of the position papers.

Okay. The first position paper that we are in receipt of is from

the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, the Office of the Secretary

General, and the secretary general is Abraham Idjirani who we

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES HSGayapa II-1 May 25, 2015 10:36 a.m. 2 acknowledged earlier. I would just like to ask, would the secretary

general want to be the one to make the presentation for the Sultanate

of Sulu and North Borneo?

MR. IDJIRANI. Good morning, Your Honors.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Good morning.

MR. IDJIRANI. For the record, I would request Princess Jacel

Kiram to present the position paper of the Sultanate of Sulu in view of

the fact that my voice is somewhat affected since you conduct hearing

in Jolo, Sulu on May 13.

Your Honors, it is my privilege to present to this Honorable

Committee, Princess Jacel Kiram.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Thank you very much,

Princess.

If you would like to proceed, you have been designated at least

for the purposes of this hearing as the spokesperson. Perhaps you

could take us through the position paper that you had given to the

Committee.

I would just like to remind you that we have been through the

position paper you have given us but we still need to hear from you

and the different issues that you feel need to be ventilated about the

draft BBL.

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So, Princess Kiram, if you would like to--

MR. IDJIRANI. Your Honor, if I may.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Yes, sir.

MR. IDJIRANI. The original position paper that we submitted

about three days ago is now being shortened in view of the fact that

there are also many speakers to air their positions regarding the

matter.

Thank you very much, Your Honor.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Thank you, Secretary

General, for that.

And with that, I think we will allow the princess to give her

presentation.

Please proceed.

MS. KIRAM-HASAN. Yes, good morning, Your Honor.

Bismillah ar-rahman ar-rahim.

Established on the Sultanate of Sulus historical background--

since its establishment in 1450 until the emasculation of its sovereign

powers and authority over the Sulu Archipelago, Zamboanga Peninsula

and Palawan in 1953 as its basis for appealing to the House of the

Senate to conduct massive consultations to the different stakeholders

regarding the ambiguity of the MILF-led Bangsamoro Basic Law.

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The MILF claims on areas or territories now under the

Bangsamoro autonomy are anchored on ancient title of sovereignty of

the Sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao. The title of sovereignty, in

particular, of the Sultanate of Sulu over the archipelago of Sulu,

Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan, and North Borneo was recognized in

the 15th to 19th century treaties of commerce, friendship and

protectorate entered and signed with Spain, Great Britain, Holland,

Netherlands, Germany, France, and even the United States.

Territorial jurisdiction of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo

from 1450 until 1935, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi divided into two provinces in

1974, Basilan, Zamboanga Peninsula comprising the provinces of

Sibugay Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and cities of

Zamboanga, Pagadian, Dipolog and Dapitan, Palawan, North Borneo in

1704.

Upon the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935,

the status of the Sultan of Sulu became--the Sultan of Sulu and people

of Sulu Archipelago became ordinary citizens of the Philippines.

Despite the above-mentioned fate, compounded by the non-

recognition policy of the royalty and nobility and the inherent rights of

the Sultanate of Sulu guaranteed by the 1947 UN charter resolution

and the 1950 UN resolution, the Sultan of Sulu and his Tausug

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES HSGayapa II-1 May 25, 2015 10:36 a.m. 5 constituents comprising the Yakan, Sama Bangingi, Sama Tawi-Tawi,

the Samal Laut, the Jama Mapun, the Tausug, the Christians and other

indigenous people continue to maintain his trust to GPH or the

Philippine government, loyalty to the Philippine Constitution since the

Commonwealth era and the post-Third Philippine Republic and until

today remains peaceful and law-abiding.

As an ancient sovereign nation, the Sultanate of Sulu entered

and signed the following: A treaty on the status of an independent

tributary states in 1405. The Sultanate of Sulu as then East King of

Sulu headed by Paduka Mahasari who died in Beijing Canal and buried

in Dezhou City, Shandong Province in China and the Emperor Yongle

of the Ming Dynasty of China entered and signed the aforesaid treaty

which embodied the mutual agreements of the two heads of two

ancient sovereign nations of the policy of non-interference on each

others internal sovereignty and affairs.

The 1405 treaty led to the visits of the three east kings of Sulu

to China in 1417 entered and signed the treaties of friendship,

commerce and protectorate with the following nations: with Spain,

with Great Britain, with Holland and Netherlands, Germany, France,

and the United States.

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The prelude to the Mindanao conflict and the Moro secessionist

movements declaration, the 1968 Jabidah Massacre, the 1968 fiasco

founded the following declarations of the Moro secessionist movement

to emancipate the Muslims called Bangsamoro in 1968 for more than

300 years and to secede Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan from the

Republic of the Philippines, facts that the MILF utilized the ancient title

of sovereignty of the Sultanate of Sulu, the intent and spirit of Kiram-

Bates Peace Agreement or treaty was invoked in the letter dated

January 20 of 2003 of MILF late chairman Hashim Salamat addressed

to US President George W. Bush Jr. in remembering the US

government of its moral obligation to the Moro people herewith is

provided for in paragraph 4, part of the MILF letter that reads--let me

read to you.

Your desire to be informed by the MILF goals reminds us of the

historic, legal and political relationship between the Moro nation and

the US federal official policy under President William McKinleys

instruction to the 1st Philippine Commission of 1900 treated the Moro

nation initially as a dependent nation similar to the North American

Indian nations under treaty relations with the US federal government.

Subsequently, the Moro nation was anchored on the Kiram-Bates

Treaty of 1899.

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Comparative analysis between December 10, 1898 Treaty of

Paris/hsg

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MS. KIRAM-HASAN. Treaty of Paris and the MILF-led CAB

and BBL. Spain ceded Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan to the United

States through the December 10, 1898 Treaty of Paris without the

process of consultation and implied consent of the Sultanates of

Maguindanao and Sulu.

In this year 2015, the inhabitants of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi

and some areas in Zamboanga City are faced with similar situation of

1898 as the BBL are pushed through despite its borne out in the

absence of massive consultation, sense of political justice,

transparency, sense of inclusive and without due regard to the historic

sovereignty of the two sultanates. The MILF-led BBL reminds also the

Tausug people in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi of the creation of the

Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes by the US government in 1920 which

urged the US government to grand it the control of affairs of the

Sultanate of Sulu in the three provinces including Zamboanga

Peninsula and Palawan.

Nearly 95 years after the MILF demanded the same political

situation to govern Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, political attitudes of

the Sultanate of Sulu despite how his ancient territories were

dismantled since the 1935 to present. The Sultan of Sulu and the

Bangsa-Suluk or the Tausug people who felt being treated second class

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CMNERY III-1 May 25, 2015 10:46 a.m. 2 citizen of the Philippines never lodged a complaint since the inclusion

of her kingdom to the Philippines against its will. Despite within the

period of 90 years from 1935 to 2015, the ancient territories of the

Sultanate of Sulu underwent three periods of continuous

neocolonialism: first, when its territories were made autonomous

region of Region IX; second, when in 1987 its territories were divided

into two regions whereby Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi formed part of

ARMM; and third, today, threatens the period of Basilan, Sulu and

Tawi-Tawi becoming under the coverage of the BBL. It did not

demand for its decolonization from the Republic of the Philippines.

Other situations that dismantled the traditional governance and

the more than 600-year-old royal lineage of the Sultanate of Sulu,

upon the outbreak of the Mindanao conflict in 1972, a conflict of the

Philippine and Moro secessionist movement became a borne out after

the eruption of the 1968 Jabidah Massacre turned out also to be

generational cultural conflict adhering to the traditions of the

Sultanates and the pro-secessionist movement. Identity changed from

the historic Tausug identity to Bangsamoro identity, a mechanism

designed by the internal and external forces behind the Mindanao war

as means to unite the socially and tribally divided Muslims to struggle

for a separate independence from the Philippines. The identity

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CMNERY III-1 May 25, 2015 10:46 a.m. 3 changed in the views of the Sultanate of Sulu wantonly violated its

historic sovereignty with the MILF is using now the Bangsamoro

identity to invoke historic and legal basis to claim territorial rights over

the Sulu archipelago and the Zamboanga Peninsula and Palawan

anchored on the Bangsamoro of vassalage theory.

As the process of drafting the BBL was done in haste, the

Sultanate of Sulu appeal to the Senate to evaluate, how the cultural

rights of the Sultanate of Sulu and all historical stakeholders including

the Christians and indigenous people in Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan,

Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are being addressed. The basic reasons are: That

the Tausug people in the Sulu archipelago and the Bangsamoro in

mainland Mindanao have distinct differences in customs and traditions

particularly with reference to the definition of the ambiguous Bahasa

language, Wali. Another is to correct the historical injustice to be

committed by the MILF-led BBL in changing the name of Sulu Sea to

Bangsamoro Water. In relation to mutual respect, meaning of the

Tausug existence and the right of Sulu Sea to exist as is which even

the Chinese chronicle recognized, the Sulu Sea as Laut or sea that

protected the kingdom of the Sultanate of Sulu.

Six vital concerns of the Sultanate of Sulu needing massive

consultations: First, the change of the historic name of Sulu Sea to

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CMNERY III-1 May 25, 2015 10:46 a.m. 4 Bangsamoro Water. The Sultanate historic constituents, the historians,

the academe and other stakeholders in the provinces of Sulu

archipelago were not consulted in order to achieve common interests,

mutual agreement and transparency of the MILF intention in relation to

wealth sharing and power control. The changing of historic name of

Sulu Sea to Bangsamoro Water is viewed by the Sultanate of Sulu as

alarming provision in relation to the North Borneo or the Sabah claim.

Second vital concern, Article VI, Section 5 of the BBL draft on the

council of leaders, the precise objective creating the council of leaders

failed to satisfy the leaders of the Sultanate institutions, the Sultanates

of Sulu and Maguindanao cognizant with the MILF aspiration to adopt

or establish a parliamentary system. Had it passed through the

process of ascertaining the views of the two sultanates, it could be a

significant mechanism as may be sanctioned by the BBL that the said

sultanates become partners of the Bangsamoro governance even in

private capacities for the promotion of peace and unity.

Third vital concern is Article VII, Section 5 of the BBL on

classification and allocation of seats. This does not contain clarity and

lasting regional goals as it would seem to undermine the weak, the

poor and the less affluent candidates seeking seats in public office

especially during the transitory period. This failed to emphasize and

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CMNERY III-1 May 25, 2015 10:46 a.m. 5 respond to the historical background of the areas and the diversities of

customs and traditions of the Muslims different tribes, the Christians

and indigenous people that need to be calibrated with those members

being elected in the Bangsamoro assembly in order to prevent the

political patronage.

Fourth vital concern is Article VIII also, Section 2 of the BBL

which emphasizes the appointment of Wali. In Malaysia, an incoming

new chief minister cannot assume and exercise officially the mandate

of his office not unless after the conferment of a pronouncement by the

Negara or governor general in the absence of the sultan declaring him

as the officially mandated chief minister. The Philippine government

may not have the legal personality to intervene as the MILF kept

declaring that the Bangsamoro juridical, political entity is asymmetrical

to the national government of the Philippines. And as the Philippine

Constitution, since 1935, no longer recognized royalty and nobility who

is referred to by the BTC now as the Wali.

Who would be the Wali? Shall the MILF appoint external forces

or a non-Filipino sultan or king to satisfy the provision of Article VIII,

Section 2 of the BBL?

The fifth vital concern is that why the MILF-led BBL did not tackle

the socioeconomic conditions, political status and present predicament

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COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CMNERY III-1 May 25, 2015 10:46 a.m. 6 of Filipino refugees in Sabah or North Borneo? The sultanate viewed

the abandonment of the present predicament/cmn

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MS. KIRAM-HASAN. of the present predicament of refugees

in North Borneo as acts of betrayal by those who created responsibly

the war in Mindanao and in Sulu archipelago. The failure or refusal to

discuss the socio-economic welfare and political status and conditions

of Philippine refugees in North Borneo became the root cause of the

summary deportation of the Filipinos in North Borneo. Due to this, in

2007, the World Refugee Organization accused Malaysia as one of the

top 10 countries in the world that violated the rights of the refugees.

And sixth vital concern is that in view of the continued trust of

the Sultan of Sulu to this government, the Philippine government, and

loyalty to the Philippine Constitution, the Sultanate of Sulu remained

peaceful and law-abiding to transfer of Sultanate of Sulus ancient

territories over Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to the governments of

MILF is an unacceptable reality.

Is the BBL the prize to the trust of the Sultanate of Sulu since

1935 by the Philippine government?

Thank you.

So that ends the position of the Sultanate of Sulu.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Thank you very much for

the presentation that you have made, Princess.

24

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION, AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CFDriz IV-1 May 25, 2015 10:56 a.m. 2 As you were speaking, theres just a general inquiry. During the

negotiations within the MILF and OPAPP, was the Sultanate of Sulu

included in any of these consultations, discussions that were done in

the formation of--which ended in the signing of the Comprehensive

Agreement, the Framework Agreement and finally the drafting of the

Bangsamoro Basic Law?

MR. IDJIRANI. If I may, Your Honors. The symbolic gesture of

the Sultanate of Sulu to respond to the call of peace in Mindanao, Sulu

and Palawan was even manifested in the 2004 submission by the MILF

of the MOA-AD. And in 2010, also the Sultanate of Sulu submitted an

official letter to OPAPP which unfortunately, in 2013 at the height of

the Lahad Datu standoff, it was declared that it was lost through

bureaucratic means. Likewise, together with this official letter also of

late Royal Highness Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, again, reiterating the

letter sent to former President Macapagal about the request for a

mandatory participation of the Sultanate of Sulu in the ongoing peace

talks in Kuala Lumpur at that time.

So the response, Your Honors, to the query by this Honorable

Committee is that, yes, the Sultanate of Sulu submitted all pertinent

requests and desire to participate in achieving peace and unity among

25

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION, AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CFDriz IV-1 May 25, 2015 10:56 a.m. 3 the Filipino people not only in Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan but by and

large, throughout the Republic of the Philippines.

Thank you, Your Honors.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). But it sounds to me like it

was a unilateral action on the Sultanates part and that this

participation and consultation were not actually implemented during

the negotiations. Am I correct, sir?

MR. IDJIRANI. Yes, Your Honor.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Which I think leads us to

the question, Usec Lorena, why did OPAPP not consult with any of the

sultanates? How is it that you imagine that something as wide-

ranging, as important, as profound as a creation of a Bangsamoro

territory in Muslim Mindanao could possibly have succeeded without

the support and the participation of the sultanates?

MR. LORENA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

First, Id like to express our thanks to the Chair for inviting us,

to Senator Francis Escudero and to members of the Committee.

At the outset, Id like to express the regret of my good secretary

for his failure to come because of another appointment. And, of

course, I was tasked by the chair, Chairman Ferrer, to represent the

panel likewise.

26

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION, AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CFDriz IV-1 May 25, 2015 10:56 a.m. 4 Let me just capture the context of the negotiation with the MILF.

First, the journey to autonomy was crafted not by the government or

the Moro fronts. It was upon the initiative of the Organization of

Islamic Conference during the 5th ICF or Islamic Conference of Foreign

Minister in Benghazi which leads to the recognition that the need to

find a just, comprehensive and lasting political solution to the problem

in Mindanao should be through negotiation within the context of

Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Now, the way towards the coming out of an autonomous region

have two contexts. First, the negotiation context which was premised

on the Benghazi resolution and captured by Resolution 18 of the ICF in

1974; and two legislation.

The direction of the President through the panel house has been

to negotiate with bothbranch within the context of the Constitution

and, of course, recognizing historical significance or the experience of

the past. Necessarily, in the course of the negotiation with the MILF,

the negotiation was not just for the MILF or for the MNLF. It is a

negotiation for the Bangsamoro. That is why in the role to the

negotiation--

CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Were there members of the

MNLF included in the panel sitting across from the OPAPP? Were there

27

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION, AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CFDriz IV-1 May 25, 2015 10:56 a.m. 5 any representatives from the sultanates included in the negotiations

that OPAPP had with what you referred to as Bangsamoro?

MR. LORENA. Mr. Chairman--

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Im sorry, Usec, you have

to answer my question.

MR. LORENA. Yeah. I will answer that, Mr. Chairman. In fact,

when the--

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). I think theyre answerable

by yes or no.

MR. LORENA. Yeah.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). While the sultanates

represented during your negotiations with MILF which resulted in the

signing of the Framework Agreement, the Comprehensive Agreement

and finally, the drafting of the draft BBL, were there representatives

from any of the sultanates in those discussions?

MR. LORENA. First, in the role to the negotiation, Mr.

Chairman--

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Im sorry, Usec, yes or no.

Its very easy.

MR. LORENA. There were Bangsamoro congresses conducted,

Your Honor, which reflects--that the Bangsamoro congresses does not

28

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION, AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CFDriz IV-1 May 25, 2015 10:56 a.m. 6 only pertain to MILF but to all the people in the Bangsamoro area

which necessarily include the Sultanates and the MNLF.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). The representatives of the

Sultanates of Sulu simply--Datu Kiram is sitting next to you. Hes

shaking his head. Sultan Kiram is also shaking his head. They were

not included. That is why we are having this hearing. How did you

imagine that something as important as far reaching, as profound, as

the creation of a Bangsamoro government in Muslim Mindanao could

possibly have been successful without including inputs, participation,

consultation from all of the sultanates. For that matter, from the IP.

MR. LORENA. Mr. Chairman, they should like to put it into

context. This is a negotiation but--

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). No, no, no. There is no

context that explains the idea or the policy that you have undertaken

that does not include the sultanates in any--All of the other peace

agreements have included the sultanates because that is a recognition

that the sultanates are necessary to the peace process. That we have

to have them together with us as partners in peace. We cannot, by

any stretch of the imagination, possibly have a successful peace

process that will be, what we have referred to now as all inclusive,

when you have not included the most ancient of the royal houses, the

29

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION, AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CFDriz IV-1 May 25, 2015 10:56 a.m. 7 sultanates and who are still extremely important in any kind of political

change that we are trying to institute in the region.

MR. LORENA. Thats correct, Mr. Chairman. But we should

first note that when there was this negotiation with the MILF, the MILF

was representing the Bangsamoro and after the negotiation, the idea

was to submit this to craft to a legislation for purposes of crafting an

inclusive Bangsamoro Law. In the whole process, we understand that

the participation of the royalty, the MNLF and the others will be

brought together because the Constitution, in fact, provides in the

crafting--

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). No, no, no, Usec. In the

negotiations that you undertook, there were two panels. Am I

correct?

MR. LORENA. Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). What was that government

panel? What was it called?

MR. LORENA. This is the government panel negotiating with

the MILF.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). That is right. /cfd

30

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES Caturla V-1 May 25, 2015 11:06 a.m. 1 THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). That is right. And what

was the other panel that you were negotiating?

MR. LORENA. The MILF representing the Bangsamoro people.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). No. The MILF themselves

MR. LORENA. Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). representing themselves.

The sultanates were not included. Were they included? Did the

sultanates have representatives during your negotiations?

MR. LORENA. Well, I think during the negotiation

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). I am sorry, Usec.

MR. LORENA. From the MILF, we have a representative. I

think the sultanate has representative. We have a sultanate

representative there, the MILF. But in the government panel definitely

there was no representative in the panel.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). There was no

representative from any of the sultanates.

MR. LORENA. In the panel, yes.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). So, you were negotiating

about the land, the culture, the history of the sultanates and they were

not included in the negotiation.

31

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES Caturla V-1 May 25, 2015 11:06 a.m. 2 MR. LORENA. But they were included in the representation of

the MILF as the Bangsamoro.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). That is not what we are

hearing from the position paper that has just been given to us this

morning. In any case by Princess GacalI am sorry, I misnamed you.

Princess KiramJacel, sorry. Princess Jacel Kiram was the one who

made the presentation for the Sultan of Sulu. And I am afraid that she

contradicts what you are saying, Usec Lorena.

Anyway, with that, I would acknowledge Senator Escudero.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Maraming salamat po. Maikli lamang po ito,

Mr. Chairman.

Usec, tanong ko lang po. Sino po ba ang nagsabi na MILF ang

tatayong kinatawan ng Bangsamoro? In other words, sino po ang

nagsabi at humirang sa MILF na sila ang magsasalita para sa lahat ho

na nanditong kaharap namin ngayon? Who made that decision, sir?

MR. LORENA. First, in July of 1974, there was a declaration by

the Organization of Islamic Conference that the MNLF then, one was

the sole and legitimate representative of the Bangsamoro. But after

the negotiation with the MNLF in 1996, definitely on the ground there

was already the MNLF and the MILF, so, the representation of the MILF

was really for the Bangsamoro. That is why the government was

32

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES Caturla V-1 May 25, 2015 11:06 a.m. 3 negotiating with these fronts because they are articulating the interest

of the Bangsamoro.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Sir, ang tanong ko po, Sino? So, ang sagot

po ba OIC ang nagsabing MNLF ang kausapin niyo. Tapos noong

wala nang armas ang MNLF dahil nakipagkasundo sa gobyerno, tinuro

din ho ba ng OIC na MILF ang kausapin niyo?

MR. LORENA. The negotiation for autonomy started in 1974, as

I said. And that is really to find lasting autonomy. That was a

partnership between the OIC, the government and the MNLF fronts at

that time.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Tama po iyon, sir, nililiwanag ko lang po.

Again, kindly just answer the question directly. Really, sir, we are

tolerating the fact that your principals are not here with the

understanding that you can answer for them. So, kindly answer the

question directly. OIC ang nagsabi sa gobyerno na MNLF ang

kakatawan sa Bangsamoro noong 1970s, ganoon po ba iyon?

MR. LORENA. Yes, sir.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Ngayon, noong mas marami ng armas

presumably, at iyong MILF na ang nanggugulo, sabi ng OIC, MILF na

ang kausapin niyo para magkaroon ng lasting peace sa Mindanao. Is

that an accurate statement?

33

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES Caturla V-1 May 25, 2015 11:06 a.m. 4 MR. LORENA. Thats not an accurate statement. The OIC did

not mention that.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Pero sinabi po nila MILF na ang kausapin

niyo.

MR. LORENA. Hindi.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Ano po?

MR. LORENA. Since they have already an agreement with the

MNLF, the other half of that Moro front became the MILF. So,

necessarily in 1997, there was a continuance of the negotiation after

the negotiation with the MNLF with the MILF.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Sino nga pong nagsabing MILF ang kausapin

niyo?

MR. LORENA. Well, thats the reality on the ground, and I think

the government made that as an initiative to negotiate with the MILF

because they also represent the other half of Moro front.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Let me unbundle po iyong definition po ng

reality on the ground. Hindi po ba ang definition ng reality on the

ground, sila ang may pinakamalaking pwersa, armas at tao na

nanggugulo sa Mindanao noong mga panahong iyon? Thats the reality

on the ground.

MR. LORENA. That may be correct, Mr. Chair.

34

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES Caturla V-1 May 25, 2015 11:06 a.m. 5 SEN. ESCUDERO. Now, again, sir, at anong dokumento ang

nagsasabiNagbigay po ba ng special power of attorney iyong mga

nandito, bumuto po ba sila, pumirma at in-appoint nila ang MILF bilang

tagapasalita nila, negosyador nila at kinatawan nila? Mayroon po bang

ganoong uri ng dokumento o bugso lamang po ng manahan mula

MNLF naging MILF? At dahil sa reyalidad sa ground, sabi niyo nga po

sila ang many pinakamalakas na puwersa, MNLF na lang po ang

kinausap ng gobyerno, without casting aspersion, sir.

MR. LORENA. Wala namang special power of attorney but,

usually, before a negotiation, there is a resolution to Bangsamoro

Congress

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Kahait na hindi SPA, Usec,

Lorena, mayroon bang isang sulat man lang na designation na

sinasabi, Kayo na ang mag-represent sa amin sa usapan ninyo sa

OPAPP?

MR. LORENA. From my experience, sir

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Alam natin na si Chairman

Datucan Abbas na tinatawag natin na Iqbal ay mayroong ganoong

klaseng formal designation. Mayroon din ba siyang formal designation

na nanggagaling, sabihin na natin sa MNLF, sa mga sultanate, kasi nga

siya ang humaharap bilang representative ng lahat ng Bangsamoro?

35

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES Caturla V-1 May 25, 2015 11:06 a.m. 6 Kaya ito ba ay formally recognized ng mga ibat-ibang sektor ng

Bangsamoro?

MR. LORENA. Mr. Chairman, there is usually a resolution

submitted by a Bangsamoro Congress. When I was with the MNLF

negotiating with the government, we have conducted several

Bangsamoro congresses. In that congresses, resolutions were passed

endorsing the articulation of the fronts. In the MILF, there were also

congresses conducted not only in Maguindanao but in other parts of

the Bangsamoro. So, that is the basis, sir.

SEN. ESCUDERO. So, ano po ang ibig sabihin ng congress,

forum po iyon, parang pagtitipon, open forum po ba iyon?

MR. LORENA. Pagtitipon where all the representatives of the

Bangsamoro people were invited.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Sino po iyong nag imbita at gumawa ng

listahan?

MR. LORENA. Of course, this is usually being invited by the

fronts.

SEN. ESCUDERO. So, naimbitahan po ba iyong mga nandito?

MR. LORENA. I cannot answer, Mr. Chairman, whether they

have been invited by the Moro fronts. Usually, there is always a

Bangsamoro Congress.

36

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES Caturla V-1 May 25, 2015 11:06 a.m. 7 SEN. ESCUDERO. But, sir, hindi ho ba concern iyon sa parte ng

gobyerno bilang negosyador na iyong kausap natin tunay na

kumakatawan sa lugar na sinasabi nilang kinakatawan nila? At hindi

ho maaari na porket sinabi nilang ganoon na iyon ay ganoon na iyon.

Paano ho kung hindi? Tulad ngayon, hindi naman pala. At iyong mga

resolusyong iyon kung sinu-sino lang ho iyong nag-attend at nagpunta.

Iyon ho iyong sitwasyon na kinakalagyan natin ngayon. Didnt the

OPAP or the GRP think that it was better for you to have exercised due

diligence in finding out? Nakonsulta nga ba lahat ang mga grupong ito

or you just left it to them? Bahala na sila.

MR. LORENA. Hindi naman bahala, Mr. Chairman. In fact, the

reason why in the negotiation, it was made a point that the negotiation

cannot be implemented if we legislate it precisely because of the

understanding that in a legislation, the process of consultation may

be had. And, therefore, since the idea of forming a Bangsamoro

Autonomous Region is also provided by the Constitution and

appropriately there would be a consultation, the mechanisms were

provided. That is why the Bangsamoro Transition Commission was

organized in order also to draft a law that will reflect the sentiments of

the entire Bangsamoro people, not just the MILF.

37

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES Caturla V-1 May 25, 2015 11:06 a.m. 8 SEN. ESCUDERO. I will wrap up, Mr. Chairman, by stating for

the record that, sir, kung iyong consultation papasok pag hinuhubog

na iyong batas, tulad ng hearing ng Kongreso, bakit niyo pinaglalaban

as is, where is? Dapat ito at hindi baguhin. Anong konsultasyon pa

ang gagawin kung ang position ng OPAPP at GRP hindi na ito

puwedeng galawin at baguhin?

Alam niyo, sa totoo lang, kung mulat-mula naging bukas ang

OPAPP at GRP sa mga pagbabago, mas mabilis pa siguro mapapasa ito

dahil nakapag-usap po tayo na Hoy, ito mali, ito ayusin natin, idagdag

natin iyong particular na pagbanggit sa IPRA Law. Kaya lang kayo po,

iyong mga bosing ninyo sa OPAPP at GRP nagmatigas. Ang position,

as is, where is hanggang noong isang linggo ho. Biglang umamin

noong isang gabi sa Malacaang na biglang, Okay na baguhin na

natin, ganito na. Pero kung mulat-mula naging bukas kayo, hindi

sana ganito kalaki ang problema.

At pangalawa, anong konsultasyon po ang sasabihin ninyo? Eh,

as is, where is nga ang position niyo. Kung talagang bukas kayo sa

pagbabago na may konsultasyon sa paghubog ng batas, ganoon din po

sana ang naging pagbuka ng pananaw. Hindi ho tulad ngayon, na ang

konsultasyon palang mangyayari sa parte na namin. Dapat ho sana sa

38

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES Caturla V-1 May 25, 2015 11:06 a.m. 9 parte niyo nagawa na rin ho iyong konsultasyon para mas mabilis

iyong trabaho.

MR. LORENA. Actually, Mr. Chairman, the panel have also

conducted consultation on their own even from the time of Chairman

Leonen. But as I said, there were tiers of consultation. One

consultation in the course of negotiation. Second, when the result of

the consultation which is the articulation of a sector of the Bangsamoro

is already legislated, there is again a consultation. In fact, after this

legislation, there would be again a lot of information.

But I am sorry if it was accepted that OPAPP was stonewalling on

as is, where is. But I think if there is a recognition that the plenary

power of thecpc

39

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES M.R. CATADMAN VI-1 May 25, 2015 11:16 a.m. 1

MR. LORENA. the plenary power of the House and the

Congress is accepted to mean that they can have certain review of the

proposed amendment by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Mr. Chairman, just two more points.

Number one, can we ask all the invited guests when they deliver

their position paper to kindly state for the record kung pormal ba

silang nakausap, nakonsulta, natanong, at kung iyong panig ba nila ay

napakinggan ng MILF man, o ng OPAPP, o GRP, para for the record,

Mr. Chairman, hindi na natin kailangang tanungin nang isa-isa pa.

VOICE. [Off-mike]

SEN. ESCUDERO. Tapusin ko lang po, sir.

At, pangalawa, kaugnay po ng magiging posisyon natin sa bagay

na ito, I refer to the letter addressed, if Im not mistaken, to Mr. Iqbal,

presented in one of our hearings, Mr. Chairman, to contradict Usec

Lorenas position. Kung saan sinasabi po nung sulat na iyon na nuong

humarap ang gobyerno, ang pagkakaunawa ni Ginoong Iqbal at ng

MILF ang kausap nila ay buong gobyerno, kabilang na ang Korte

Suprema pati na rin ang Kongreso. Kaya nga po ang posisyon nila

hindi namin puwedeng baguhin na rin iyon. Sa mahabang panahon

hohindi ho ito misinterpretation, quotes po ito na nanggagaling

40

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES M.R. CATADMAN VI-1 May 25, 2015 11:16 a.m. 2 mismo mula sa tagapagsalita ng pamahalaan, mula sa OPAPP, at sa

GRP.

I yield, Mr. ChairmanI think an invited guestto our resource

person.

THE CHAIRMAN(SEN. MARCOS). Thank you, Senator

Escudero.

Just as a point of information and to put more detail into the

discussion. In the meeting that we had with the Secretary General

Hamidi of OIC, he very specifically mentioned over and over again that

the MILF is the body that they recognize, and that the body, the MILF,

had not been consulted in any of the negotiations, or in any of the

discussions that led up to the drafting of the BBL. HenceIm sorry,

Usec Lorenathat puts paid to your assertion that these consultations

occur. The position paper that has been read to us clearly also states

that the Sultanate of Sulu, despite all of their efforts to involve

themselves in this peace process, were ignored. And it seems to be

that that is the same situation with all of the sultanates, with all the

IPs, with the local government units, with the MNLF, and that is why

we are conducting these hearings to try and make up for that

shortcoming in the process that was undertaken by the OPAPP.

Essentially, Usec Lorena, we are doing your job for you. We are doing

41

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES M.R. CATADMAN VI-1 May 25, 2015 11:16 a.m. 3 your work for you. This is something that you should have done

during the process of negotiation so that when you presented the BBL

to Congress, then that version of the BBL incorporated into it all of the

views, opinions, suggestions from all of the stakeholdersand I cannot

think of any larger or more important stakeholders in the process than

the sultanates. And having said that, I would like now to turn over the

floor to Congressman Mike Mastura who has some interventions to

introduce.

MR. MASTURA. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much.

With your permission, I want to put on record, I cannot in

conscience leave this room without putting on record that this is about

negotiation and transformation of nation of that negotiation for conflict

resolution.

So the authority that the Honorable Senator Escudero is asking is

not on the basis of appointment, or election, or nomination, but he was

right in the premise that it is the armed groupin other words, the

non-state actorswho are negotiating

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). The armed group, not the

ARMM, as in A-R-M-M?

MR. MASTURA. No, armed group.

42

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES M.R. CATADMAN VI-1 May 25, 2015 11:16 a.m. 4

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). A-r-m-e-d, just to be clear,

Congressman.

MR. MASTURA. Right. A-r-m-e-d, non-state actors

negotiating. Now maybe if you will allow me a little more time, the

first negotiation was undertaken under your own father. This was the

Tripoli Agreement of 1976. I want to say this that, Senator Escudero,

I was an undersecretary, together with your father, at that time. The

inputs that I can say is that the result of the 1996 agreement

converted to domestic law is an unfinished business. So that is why

MNLF, led by Chairman Misuari, still goes to OIC.

The other consideration is why is MILF taken into the picture?

Because they are also with superior arms fighting the government, and

it is the duty of government precisely to deal with these security

problems. And so, former President Fidel V. Ramos, a cousin of former

President Ferdinand E. MarcosIm a historian so I would know this

General Ramos, when he became president, reached out to the MILF,

reached out to Chairman Hashim, that is where I came into the

picture. I left Congress, he talked to me to help, and I sat on the

panel, and for 17 years, Your HonorsI left government, I remained

as a citizen, but I served this nation through being a counterpart in

that negotiation. A lawyerThere are no lawyers in the jungle,

43

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES M.R. CATADMAN VI-1 May 25, 2015 11:16 a.m. 5 according to your father, so he wanted me to return to Congress. I

said, No more. Salamat has invited me into the panel. And,

anyway, it brings us to the point that we are still at it, there are two

documents nowthe FAB and then the CAB, and that is where BBL is

leading us to.

I want to correct the impression that BBL is not a product of that

negotiation, the draft, I mean. It is a product of appointees of the

president of the Philippines--appointees of President Aquino in that

BTC. So it is a partnership between government and nominees of the

MILF. The negotiation will take backseats because this is about

legislation. That is why with your permissionbecause I did not

anymore wait for you to call me as a resource personI have two

documents, and I have written your secretariat, and I have submitted

them, and it is for your disposal and I hope that it will be read for the

record. It is for documentation of my stand and they are very specific

on the question you asked me at a private dinner, you want me to

explain a symmetryasymmetrical relation.

Let me go back to the point. So there is no authority on the

part of the MILF to say, People, we want to negotiate in your behalf.

So with MNLF, under Nur Misuari. But because it is now under

international law, both are lawyers--so there is a law of peace

44

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES M.R. CATADMAN VI-1 May 25, 2015 11:16 a.m. 6 agreement, lex pacificatoria. So this should not be treated, Mr.

Senator, Your Honor Escudero, as plain, domestic concerns. It

involves, what I call, the existence of international dimension. And

thats why I did not go to the House of Representatives, I have a

standing invitation. I prefer to come to you. Im sorry for not coming

during the Mamasapano investigation. I did not feel like being a

military man, so I did not come.

So, now Im here as a lawyer, as a former congressman, as a

scholar, and now the idea is to produce a law/mrjc

45


MR. MASTURA. the idea is to produce a law that willis it to

supplant the Organic Act? The title itself is very misleading, thats why

it is to abolish the Autonomous Region. I dont think we can abolish

the Autonomous Region because it is a constitutional provision. In

other words, ARMM. Therefore, technically, what we should do is to

revise the Organic Act.

So, the title itself, normally, a lawI have been a legislator, a

law talks about its title only after all the provisions are discussed and

approved. But here I am because it is important to know the purpose

of the law. The purpose of the law is to revise. Like the Constitution,

its either you amend or you revise. In this case, its a total overhaul

of Organic Act, the original.

I was still a member of Congress when we passed 6734. And as

amended, this is also a response of government to the MNLFs

demands. Therefore, the law amending 6734, which is 9054, is an

expanded Organic Act. So, it always referred to the law. And what

Congress does with the law is never abolishing the Autonomous

Region. So, in short, we should address the transitional aspect of this.

Therefore, revision would be more proper, like we would revise the

Constitution if it is entirely overhauled. Thus, we can set up a

structure so it will be setting up a new structure and governance, of

46

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CDAstrero I-2 May 25, 2015 11:26 a.m. 2 course. Thats why you can shift from one form or structure of

government. But there is a doctrine of what you call Act of

Exception. This is also my research in other conflict areas, namely,

for example, Aland in Finland and even Bougainville. Then, the

question will be addressed on whether we would need a constitutional

charter as reported already by the Honorable Miriam Defensor. I have

read the report and I cited it in the position paper that I submitted to

you. But I dont want to be carried with this, Mr. Senator. The

authority youre asking

The third partyThis is the third part. So, when the war was

declared by the Estrada administration came to an end, then the next

administration, the Arroyo administration, took up and picked up the

reaching out of President Ramos; and President Arroyo went to a state

visit in Malaysia and asked for a third-party facilitation. That is where

former Prime Minister Mahathir came to the picture. And the

agreement on that state visit was that the Philippines will form a panel.

At that time, GRP was used, not GPH. And on the part of Salamat, as

chairman, he would form a panel.

It is important also, Mr. Senator, that we refer to the letter of

Chairman Salamat to US President George Bush. For more than a

hundred years, this would be the first time that the Bangsamoro, the

47

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CDAstrero I-2 May 25, 2015 11:26 a.m. 3 Moros would have a direct conversation with the highest authority of

the government of the United States. And that is why the treaty

mentioned and referred to by Dayang Dayang Jacel Kiram is important.

Okay. This is no intervention. The late Salamat did not mean that the

US will intervene. I appealed in the WikiLeaks. I think they are not

very many people. I dont know if I should be proud or be ashamed of

that. For that reasonbecause of that the only reason why this

letter was written and it is officially responded to by the State

Department. And this response was that the Bangsamoro people have

legitimate grievances. But the reason behind that correspondence

between MILFs, Chairman Salamat and the US State Department was

to see to it that MILF will not be put in the list of international terrorists

organization. I think that is important because that makes the

distinction in foreign policy and in domestic policy.

So, I will probably end up here but later on, allow me to

intervene why the sultanates, why this traditionBecause this is a

vindication of a neglected policy on what to do with the sultanate

despite claims of territories. There is no real policy addressing the

traditional institutions that we have. The sultanates are not Morrigon.

What we lost is power because of governance, republican system.

What we still own and haveI belong to the direct bloodline of Sultan

48

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CDAstrero I-2 May 25, 2015 11:26 a.m. 4 Kudarat, therefore, sultan of Maguindanao. What we have in our laws

is influence and that is why we are here. But I want to have an advice

also in dealing with this. This is what I promise you, Mr. Chairman,

Senator Marcos, to help you, sort this out. I advise that those claiming

sultanates should go back to our genealogy, our Tarsila. Then we will

help government settle our seemingly unending, intermittent clashes

along clans level, then we would not bother government.

Where you can help us, Mr. Senator, your committees, Peace

andSenator Guingona is not here, the chairman in Reconciliationis

look at our series of treaties, look at our structures. Because the last

treaty, Carpenter Agreement, mentioned that the Sultan of Sulu would

be the head of the Mohammedan church. Again, in these days, Senator

Chiz, this is politically incorrect. We are not Mohammedans, we are

Muslims. So, there is no church also. So, I do not want to be Cardinal

Tagles counterpart.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Congressman, we have

wandered into the details of the historical perspective. Although, very

important, unfortunately, we simply do not have the time to pursue it

in that great detail.

MR. MASTURA. Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

SEN. ESCUDERO. Mr. Chairman, just a brief

49


THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Yes, Senator Escudero.

SEN. ESCUDERO. I thank Congressman Mastura for his inputs.

But really, SPA appointment and authorization was a figure of

speech if only to highlight the fact that these people were not

consulted. Tanggap at alam ko po na silay mas may pinakamaraming

armas kaya nga nandito ho kami ngayon. Ang batas ginagawa para

pangalagaan ang sinuman, being a legislator yourself. Ang batas

ginagawa para pangalagaan ang interest ng minorya, hindi para

pangalagaan ang interest ng mayorya at dati nang malakas na

maraming armas. Nandito ho kami para pangalagaan iyong interest

ng hindi kayang ipaglaban iyong interest nila. And at the end of the

day, whether it is MILF/cda

50


SEN. ESCUDERO. whether it is MILF, OPAPP, GPH, they should

have still talked to all of these minorities and minority groups,

pakinggan man lang sila, hindi man nalagay sa batas, hindi man

nalagay sa bill, ang importante nabigyan sila ng pagkakataon marinig

na tila hindi ho lubusang nagawa to the contentment of the people we

have here before us. Hence, the long hearings of Senator Marcos until

this afternoon.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). Thank you, Senator

Escudero.

Yes, we can anticipate that certainly. But it is long as they may

be, lengthy as they might be, they are, to me, obviously necessary and

that is why we are conducting them despite the importuning of

members in the Executive that we just ignore some of these sectors

and just pass the bill and dont bother studying it too hard. Bastat

ipasa na lang para na lang matapos na. Hindi namin matanggap-

tanggap na ganyan ang aming katungkulan sa mga nagluklok sa amin

dito sa mga posisyon namin and that is why we are conducting these

hearings.

So, thank you for the presentation that was given us from the

Sultanate of Sulu.

51


The issues that were raised are issues that have been raised

before most specifically in our hearings in Jolo wherein many of these

points were made, the point that the non-recognition of the historical

background of the Sultanate of Sulu that is expressed in the BBL of

changing Sulu Sea into the Bangsamoro waters because that is

precisely something that is unacceptable simply because it is incorrect

and inaccurate and does not have an eye to historical realities. The

issue of the Wali is also something that has been raised and it is

something that has been explained to us, again, in the hearings in Jolo

that the Wali represents the Sultan and there is no need to appoint a

Wali if the Sultan is available to do at least the ceremonial duties and

that is one of the contentious issues. The organization of the

parliament and the division between voting and appointed seats of 60

to 40 is also something that has been seen as problematic. I think

that is more or less the point that is made except further to mention

the fact that the tribal delineations of the Tausugs in the Sultanate of

Sulu must also be recognized and have not been recognized.

So, we thank you for that presentation.

I think we have a great many of these position papers to go

through. I would like now to proceed to the next position paper that

52

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES HSGayapa II-2 May 25, 2015 11:36 a.m. 3 will be presented. It will be presented by the chairman and the

descendant of Diwan, Royal House of Bayang, Datu Alexander Mama-o.

Datu Mama-o, are you ready to present the position of the Royal

House of Bayang?

MR. MAMA-O. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Yes, I am ready.

THE CHAIRMAN (SEN. MARCOS). The Royalty of Bayang and

Pagayawan.

MR. MAMA-O. Yes. Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa

barakatuh. My warmest greetings of peace to Honorable Senator

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chairman of the Committee on Local Government

and Senator Francis Chiz Escudero and all the resource persons who

are present here today.

I see my good friend Abraham Idjirani and Princess Jacel. My

late condolence to your father. I was not able to attend the--he was

my friend.

I am here on behalf of the Sultanate of Bayang, his Royal

Highness Sultan Ali Manding who appears to be my uncle and we thank

you, Honorable Senator, for this invitation that the Sultanate of

Bayang is allowed and given the privilege to participate in the joint

53

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES HSGayapa II-2 May 25, 2015 11:36 a.m. 4 public hearing of Senate Bill 2408 or the Proposed Bangsamoro Basic

Law.

Before that, Mr. Chairman, allow me to introduce myself. I am

the incumbent Datu-a-Cabugatan sa Bayang (crown prince of the Royal

House of Bayang, Lanao del Sur), in line with the throne of the

sultanate of the descendants of Moriatao Amdhag, from the Sharif

Amerudin clan. I am also the present chairman of the Moriatao Diwan,

the great descendants of the Royalty of Bayang and Pagayawan.

The Royalty of Bayang and Pagayawan are all by originally

brothers, the Diwan and the Pagayawan.

The Sultanate of Bayang is among the four pioneer principalities

of the Royal Houses of Dalm-a-Unayan, Dalm Masiu, Dalm-a-

Bayabao and Dalm-a-Baloi. Those are the four beginning territories,

Mr. Chairman, when the two Lanao provinces are still intact, one

province. This is now expanded to 16 royal houses of Lanao provinces

including the 28 sultanates of surrounding municipalities that served as

the legislative body.

The Sultanate of Bayang was the seat of power of the Paramount

Sultan of the 19 royal houses of Mindanao and Sulu during the reign of

the late Sultan Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman, former sultan of Bayang and

my uncle in second degree. He was proclaimed by the late President,

54

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES HSGayapa II-2 May 25, 2015 11:36 a.m. 5 your father, Mr. Chairman, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, at

Malacaang Palace in 1975, if my memory is right.

In short, we trace our lineage to the established Mindanao

royalties who ruled prior to era of Philippine colonization. We are

descendants of the original inhabitants in the archipelago.

Our ancestors had their own political, economic, and social

systems. They exercise their right to self-determination. It is a pride

of Philippine history that its Moro people were never colonized for more

than 300 years. We are people of distinct history and culture; that is,

we are self-governing and first nation builders. Our ancestors fought

valiantly for us to be not subjugated by Spanish, Japanese and

American colonial rule. Our hometown is remembered for the Battle of

Padang Karbala in Bayang in 1902 during the American occupation.

The Americans chronicled the war as the fiercest battle in all of the

insurrection.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is carved in the history that Southern

Mindanao was only forcefully annexed, without consent, into the

Philippine system when Spain ceded the country to America in 1898.

Hence, the historical injustice, that up to now this generation and

administration aim to address through peaceful means through the

Bangsamoro peace process. Originally, our elders in the Moro fronts

55

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES HSGayapa II-2 May 25, 2015 11:36 a.m. 6 since the 1960s struggled to regain our independence as a people. But

with the realities that we are minority or historically minoritized in the

country, the MILF negotiated for genuine autonomy within the

Philippines through democratic process and legislative process.

In short, Mr. Chairman, I would like to inform the body that

there was before a question who endorsed, I mean, if there was any of

the sultanate who endorsed the negotiation, and for the information of

the body, the great descendants of Diwan passed a resolution during

the administration of former President Macapagal-Arroyo, through

Secretary Avelino Razon Jr., asking the resumption of the peace

negotiation between the MILF and the government. So, the statement

that there was no royalty who endorsed the one was that probably the

royal house of Bayang endorsed this. And that is on record during the

time of former Secretary Avelino Razon Jr. in the OPAPP.

What is our position/hsg

56


MR. MAMA-O. What is our position on the BBL?

The position of the Royal Sultanate of Bayang is a resounding

yes for the passage of BBL or the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

And allow me to state the reasons why we support the

Bangsamoro Basic Law.

1. The BBL addresses the Bangsamoro aspiration for genuine

autonomy as a solution to historical injustices done to the Bangsamoro

people who have been struggling to regain their right to self-

determination.

Ang BBL po ang tugon sa matagal na hangad ng Bangsamoro

para sa tunay na awtonomiya. Labimpitong taon na po ang tagal ng

negosasyon sa pagitan ng MILF at gobyerno sa nakaraang tatlong

administrasyon hanggang ngayon.

I was part of the Consultative Conference on Muslim Mindanao

Autonomy organized by the steering committee for the drafting of the

Organic Act of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao back in

1987. Unfortunately, ARMM has not fully achieved and exercised

genuine political and fiscal autonomy. Hopefully, it can be realized

with the proposed establishment of the Bangsamoro political entity.

57


2. The BBL keeps our country intact and recognizes Bangsamoro

identity, retaining one Filipino citizenship.

Ang BBL po ay naaayon sa diwa ng Saligang Batas na social

justice. Ang BBL po ay maghiihilom sa sugat ng Bangsamoro na

magkaroon po kami ng tunay na awtonomiya matapos ang ilang

dekada ng rebelyon at negosasyon.

Hindi separate o hiwalay na bansa ang Bangsamoro political

entity. Ang BBL ang daan para tuluyan nang kilalanin ang Bangsamoro

socio-political identity na kaisa bilang mga kapwa Pilipino.

3. The BBL is a product of numerous consultations and

consensus building.

The BBL is based on the Comprehensive Agreement on the

Bangsamoro (CAB) which is a product of 17 years of peace

negotiations, where both parties, the government peace panel and the

MILF, invested so much effort and goodwill. The proposed BBL was not

made overnight. Numerous consultations were made by the parties

and peace advocates from various sectors of society to form the

proposed BBL. In fact, we have lived and died in the stretch of 17

years for us to come at this point where a Bangsamoro peace

58

COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF CODES CMNERY III-2 May 25, 2015 11:46 a.m. 3 agreement was signed in 2014 and it can be put to life through the

passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

4. The BBL ought to be passed. This should be the mindset of

progressive Filipinos. The passage of BBL is not being rushed per se,

giving importance to it as an affirmative action for justice and peace

aspired for by the Bangsamoro.

Yes, we want a good quality of BBL. But that can be done with

due appreciation of the urgency of this priority legislative measure.

For our lawmakers who truly understand the decades-old Bangsamoro

history, struggle, and aspiration, the time has come to finally resolve

the long wait for a political solution for the Bangsamoro.

Our appeal is that time is of the essence. We have in our midst

integral components for a successful peace process. The political will

of the current administration and the leadership of Congress as well as

the support of various stakeholders as shown in surveys. It is our

earnest appeal that our political leaders transcend partisan divisions

and work together in this historic opportunity to resolve the decades-

old conflict in Mindanao and lifelong struggle of our Moro brothers and

sisters.

59


Kayo pong ginagalang naming mga mambabatas, our lawmakers

and legislators who have this monumental role, nasa kamay niyo po

ang pagkamit ng matagal nang hangad ng kapayapaan, hustisya at

kaunlaran ng Bangsamoro na para s

bbl in senate | hearing on issues of sultanates, ips in the bbl, may 25, 2015

Documents

organic act

sultanate of sulu sultan

paramount sultan

royal ladies

local government joint

council of royal sharif

purpose republic act

muslim mindanao