ARMM governor laments Sulu’s opposition to Bangsamoro law
MANILA, Philippines — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman decried the bid of the Sulu provincial government to nullify the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
In a statement, Hataman lamented how a fellow Moro has sought to block the implementation of the BOL.
“It is such a shame that it is a Moro who seeks to spoil this process all over again. We cannot allow the personal interests or anyone—especially not a Moro—to again sow discord where we so clearly need peace,” he said.
Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan II, through lawyer Sixto Brillantes, filed a petition before the Supreme Court asking to declare the BOL as unconstitutional.
Tan said the BOL violates Section 18 and 19 of Article 10 (Local Government) of the 1987 Constitution, which authorized the enactment of only one organic act to establish the ARMM. He added the BOL also violated the separation of powers under the Constitution
But Hataman insisted that “this is not the time to put a roadblock up against the BOL.”
“The Bangsamoro has sacrificed more than time and effort in this endeavor: many of us have lost lives and family members to the Moro struggle for self-determination. Our people, especially our women, have suffered these losses but continued to work and pray for a Bangsamoro homeland across decades of conflict,” the ARMM governor said.
BOL to withstand constitutional test
Hataman is certain that the BOL will stand legal scrutiny.
“We are confident that the Bangsamoro Organic Law will stand well under scrutiny and it will become the strong foundation of the peace we have been building for so long. Moros are people of peace and peace will win in the end,” he said.
Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, earlier expressed confidence that the BOL can withstand constitutional test, noting that both chambers of the Congress, as well as the “legal minds of the executive department,” worked on the measure before it was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last July.
“I am confident this petition will not stop on its tracks a new beginning for the Bangsamoro. If at all, the most this latest challenge on the new law will do is to affirm its constitutionality with finality for the benefit of all Bangsamoro and all citizens as well,” he said.
During the ceremonial signing of the BOL in August, Duterte expressed hope that the implementation of the law would put an end to the conflict in Mindanao.
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