Misuari, Kato invited to House hearing on Bangsamoro

MANILA, Philippines - The special House committee on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has invited leaders of rival armed groups in Mindanao to a hearing on the proposed legislation next month.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, committee chairman, extended invitations to chairman Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Umbra Kato of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and representatives of the Islamic Command.

Also invited were leaders of two rival MNLF factions – Abul Khayr Alonto and Muslimin Sema.

The draft BBL is the product of peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Rodriguez has set the hearing for representatives of armed groups in Mindanao for Jan. 20, a day after the House of Representatives and the Senate resume their session.

“We want to consult them, we want to hear the views of all stakeholders, including armed groups,” he said.

He said if Misuari and Kato could not make it because of pending warrants for their arrest, they could send their representatives or submit position papers.

Rodriguez has also set a hearing for Jan. 19, to which all governors and city and town mayors in Mindanao were invited.

After the two hearings to be held at the House of Representatives at the Batasan complex in Quezon City, the special committee will have held more than 30 public consultations over the last three months.

It has shuttled between Mindanao and the Batasan complex to hear the views of all stakeholders.

The committee tried to get the views of Muslim groups in Luzon and the Visayas by holding hearings in Cebu City and Iloilo City, and in Baguio City and Laoag City.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, who chairs the House defense committee and who has actively participated in the hearings, lauded the Rodriguez panel for attempting to reach out to all concerned Muslim groups and individuals.

“In my nine years as a senator and five years as a congressman, I have never seen public consultations as extensive and expansive as those the special committee has been conducting,” he said.

Rodriguez said his 75-member committee is now winding down its public consultations.