{"id":13426,"date":"2018-08-16T12:36:44","date_gmt":"2018-08-16T16:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/?p=13426"},"modified":"2018-11-21T17:25:28","modified_gmt":"2018-11-21T22:25:28","slug":"a-new-dawn-for-mindanaos-bangsamoro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/?p=13426","title":{"rendered":"A \u2018new dawn\u2019 for Mindanao’s Bangsamoro"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

. .DISARMAMENT & SECURITY. .<\/p>\n

An article from Zamboanga Today<\/a><\/p>\n

In a historic event, the Philippines’ one-time largest Muslim rebel group presented a landmark law last August 8, 2018 which will give Moro people greater autonomy in ruling their homeland in Mindanao.<\/p>\n

Congress’ ratification of Bangsamoro and its eventual signing into law by President Rodrigo Duterte came as a huge victory for the Moro Islamic Libetation Front (MILF), which had been waging a rebellion seeking autonomy or independence in southern areas that they regard as their\u00a0ancestral\u00a0homeland.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nPoster for film Bangsamoro: The Quest for Peace in Mindanao<\/a><\/center><\/p>\n

The presentation developed after President Duterte led the ceremonial signing of the BOL in Malaca\u00f1ang three weeks ago after its signing was delayed due to the\u00a0abrupt\u00a0change of leadership in the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n

It will be recalled that during his presidential campaign in 2016, Duterte, then mayor of Davao City, said he would work out for the grant of self-governance, in the context of federalism, to Mindanao\u2019s Bangsamoro sectors, if elected president.<\/p>\n

“There shall be a Bangsamoro country to finally end the decades-old conflict that is rooted in the Bangsamoro\u2019s fight for self-determination and the recognition of their unique identity,” Duterte said, as he hoped it will help correct the historical injustices committed against the Moros.<\/p>\n

The first Philippine President from Mindanao said: “May this (Bangsamoro law) serve as the final trajectory for the attainment of genuine peace, stability, [and] good governance in Muslim Mindanao. Together, let us shatter the dark clouds that once loomed over our nation for generations, welcome the dawn of a brighter future not only for the Bangsamoro people, but for all peace loving Filipinos.”<\/p>\n

Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who chairs the Senate subcommittee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BOL), had called the ratified law for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) an\u00a0advent\u00a0of a new era for Mindanao.<\/p>\n

“It’s a new dawn for Bangsamoro in Mindanao,” he said following the ratification of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. “The MILF and the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) are ready to work with the Philippine Government especially in the conduct of the plebiscite that will be held around November.”<\/p>\n

Admitting that the “Bangsamoro was the hardest bill he ever tackled, the Mindanao lawmaker said its preamble was contentious.<\/p>\n

“They were about to walk away. We were able to convince MILF to step back from independence bid. We will have a parliamentary system in Bangsamoro region. There will be 80 members of parliament under Bangsamoro region. There will be a chief minister,\u00a0 two deputy chiefs and a ‘wali’ (ceremonial leader).”<\/p>\n

Senator Zubiri\u00a0assured\u00a0the Bangsamoro people that in the Senate they will exert all efforts to ensure the successful implementation of the BOL.<\/p>\n

This includes the budget for the plebiscite and the yearly\u00a0Block\u00a0Grant\u00a0allocation, as well as the national program that will benefit the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, according to Zubiri.<\/p>\n

(continued in right column)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Question for this article:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\n

Can peace be achieved in Mindanao?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

(continued from left column)<\/p>\n

\u201cI will continue to champion our cause in the Senate for the continued peace and prosperity for your region and the whole of Mindanao,” he added.<\/p>\n

Without any doubt, according to political observers, President Duterte made true of his promise to the Bangsamoro people and his commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process.<\/p>\n

In a statement, Usec. Nabil Tan, deputy presidential peace\u00a0adviser\u00a0and chair of the Government Implementing Panel for the GPH-MILF peace\u00a0accord, said the passage of the BOL is the start of a new chapter in the lives of the Bangsamoro people.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is just the beginning\u2026 Much work still needs to be done. We must now double our efforts,\u201d said Tan.<\/p>\n

Tan noted that both the Senate and House of Representatives made sure the landmark measure was crafted \u201cwithin the bounds of the Philippine Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the BOL is a vast improvement over the ARMM Organic Law (RA 9054) and the final peace agreement signed between the Philippine government and the MNLF in 1996.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is ARMM plus-plus,\u201d Tan said, explaining that with the passage of the BOL, more resources will now be poured into the region to\u00a0accelerate\u00a0its economic development.<\/p>\n

These resources, he said, include an annual\u00a0Block\u00a0Grant that will be automatically appropriated to the BARMM government to fund its operations for the next\u00a020 years.<\/p>\n

Tan said a Special Development Fund will also be provided to fast track the rehabilitation of conflict-affected areas in the region. \u201cWe now have this law. The challenge now is how to make the Bangsamoro government work effectively,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

For his part, chair of the Government Implementing Panel for the GPH-MILF peace\u00a0accord\u00a0Mohagher Iqbal said the passage of the BOL signifies a milestone that was achieved by the concerted efforts of all stakeholders in the peace process.<\/p>\n

He paid tribute to those who made huge sacrifices that led to the\u00a0approval\u00a0of the BOL, particularly members of the MILF leadership who have passed away.<\/p>\n

He also lauded members of Congress for their firm support to the law, which he said aims to provide the Moro people meaningful autonomy and enable them to chart their political future through the democratic process.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe urge you to value this agreement. This peace process is for everyone,\u201d Iqbal said.<\/p>\n

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman said the passage of the BOL is a truly momentous occasion for the Bangsamoro people.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have reached this point through sacrifice,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n

Hataman lauded the Philippine government and the MILF for ensuring the\u00a0approval\u00a0of the law, which is expected to bring a long-lasting peace and sustainable development in the region.<\/p>\n

He said the passage of the BOL is not meant to diminish the\u00a0accomplishments\u00a0of the ARMM government but seeks to build on its gains over the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not erasing the ARMM,\u201d Hataman said.<\/p>\n

The ARMM governor said that the greater challenge confronting the Bangsamoro people now is how to ensure the successful implementation of the law.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new law is now here. Let us unite behind it. This is a better law,\u201d he said. Hader Glang<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

. .DISARMAMENT & SECURITY. . An article from Zamboanga Today In a historic event, the Philippines’ one-time largest Muslim rebel group presented a landmark law last August 8, 2018 which will give Moro people greater autonomy in ruling their homeland in Mindanao. Congress’ ratification of Bangsamoro and its eventual signing into law by President Rodrigo … Continue reading A \u2018new dawn\u2019 for Mindanao’s Bangsamoro<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,79],"tags":[32],"class_list":["post-13426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-disarmament","category-east-asia","tag-east-asia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13426"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13426\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}