The Senate Committee on Local Government, chaired by Senator Bongbong Marcos, together with the Committees on Peace Unification and Reconcillation; and Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, will contiunue its inquiry on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Also present during the BBL hearing is Senator Chiz Escudero. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Teofisto Guingona III on Wednesday called for revisions in the preamble of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law to ensure the protection of minority communities living in areas covered by the planned autonomous region.
Guingona said there is a need to ensure the consistency of BBL provisions with the Constitution amend part of the preamble which currently refers to the aspiration of “the Bangsamoro People.”
He said this should instead read as “the inhabitants of the Bangsamoro,” a phrase which ensures “inclusiveness” and the “clear and unequivocal protection of the rights of non-muslim Filipinos” in that region.
“There are communities of indigenous and non-Muslim peoples in the areas proposed under the Bangsamoro,” he pointed out. “The BBL in its final form must ensure that they are treated equally and that their right to life, liberty and property are respected even if they are a minority,” he said in a press statement.
He said this is also the reason why he is proposing the deletion of the third paragraph of the Preamble of the draft BBL which proclaimed the concept of “self-determination.”
He believes such word has been “misused” since what is guaranteed by the Constitution is territorial autonomy and “not ethnic autonomy.”
“Besides, the right of self-determination is already recognized under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act which applies to all people who live in the planned autonomous region whether or not they are Muslims,” Guingona said.
He expressed concern that the use of “self-determination” in the current draft “tends to exclude non-Muslim communities” which is “a mistake we must not repeat and perpetuate.”
Guingona said he is also proposing the use of the words “within the framework of the constitution” in the preamble of the draft BBL. The phrase replaces the words “in consonance with the constitution” in the current draft.
“This emphasizes that the BBL is clearly intended to be consistent with the Constitution of the Republic,” he said.
He had earlier warned that an “unconstitutional” BBL can delay the plebiscite where it will be ratified, and may result in more instability in the region.
“We cannot allow the further erosion of the people’s trust in the peace process by letting the BBL fail the challenges and test of constitutionality,” he said.
“The Constitution remains the foundation of the peace process and the aspiration for an autonomous Bangsamoro,” Guingona added. (MNS)