Mangudadatu denies ARMM leaders' alleged opposition to Bangsamoro law

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu on Wednesday refuted insinuations that he and other provincial governors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have fused ranks to block the enactment into law of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Mangudadatu denied there is such move before congressional representatives that led the final provincial draft BBL public consultation at the municipal gymnasium of Buluan, the new capital town of Maguindanao.

The gymnasium was packed with thousands of people that listened attentively to the discussions, punctuated with pledges of commitment to the Mindanao peace process by local officials and leaders of local sectors.

“There is no truth to stories purporting that we, provincial governors in the autonomous region, are trying to block the passage of the draft BBL. We, the five provincial governors of ARMM, support the Mindanao peace process wholeheartedly,” Mangudadatu said during the consultation.

The ARMM covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The four-hour consultation, presided over by Sulu Rep. Habib Tupay Loong, was attended by government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and a senior member of her panel, Senen Bacani, and Commissioners Abdullah Camlian, Timuay Tony Kinok and Raisa Jadjurie of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

Loong said Congress, which aims to pass the draft BBL into law by first quarter of 2015, will use as reference in its deliberation on the bill all the inputs and comments on some of its provisions by the local communities.

“Your suggestions on how to improve the draft BBL, or what you do not like in the proposed law shall be considered and studied by us,” Loong, former governor of Sulu, said.

None of the more than 3,000 people, among them Maguindanao municipal mayors, vice-mayors, councilors, and members of the provincial board, that attended the congressional draft BBL consultation expressed opposition to the proposed measure meant to replace the ARMM with a new Bangsamoro entity.

The creation of the Bangsamoro entity is part of the final peace deal between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has more than 50 enclaves scattered in Maguindanao’s 36 towns.

Mangudadatu said there are “peace spoilers” from outside of ARMM that are trying to create the impression that provincial governors in the autonomous region are against the draft BBL. He did not elaborate, however.

“Hindi po yan totoo lalo na sa amin dito sa Maguindanao. We are for the speedy enactment into law of the draft BBL,” said Mangudadatu, chair of the inter-agency provincial peace and order council.

Maguindanao’s two congressional representatives, Bai Sandra Sema and Zajid Mangudadatu, also both called on ARMM residents to continue supporting the government’s Mindanao peace initiative, meant to foster lasting peace and sustainable development in predominantly Southern Muslim areas.

“We’re talking here of the Bangsamoro people, not just of our individual selves,” said Sema, scion of the Moro royalty in Maguindanao’s ilod (downstream) area.

The Mangudadatus and most mayors in the second district of Maguindanao belong to the Moro nobility in the raya (upper delta) of the province.

The mayors in the province again unanimously endorsed the draft BBL during Wednesday's congressional consultation in Buluan.

Local officials, among them ARMM Assemblyman Khadafy Mangudadatu, repeatedly prodded Loong and his colleagues in Congress to study seriously the views and sentiments of the participants to the consultation who were given chance to speak one after another during the gathering.