Zamboanga City mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has opposed the possibility of the city’s inclusion in the envisioned Bangsamoro territory that will be formed as part of the comprehensive peace pact signed between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Speaking to lawmakers at the last public hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) Wednesday, Climaco-Salazar said that while she and her constituents support the government’s peace efforts, the city should not be made part of the envisioned Bangsamoro core territory at any time.
“The city should never form part nor be included in the Bangsamoro now or ever. Neither of its 98 barangays or municipalities should be part of Bangsamoro now or ever,” she said.
Aside from excluding Zamboanga City from the Bangsamoro core territory, Climaco-Salazar said the city’s municipal waters will continue to remain its own while the Cabatangan property should be transferred to the national government and not purchased by Congress. She said the city government is willing to buy the land.
Under Section 1, Article XVIII of Republic Act 9054, otherwise known as the Act to Strengthen and Expand the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), all properties in the areas which chose not to join the ARMM should be purchased by the national government. The local government units having jurisdiction over them, in turn, can buy the lands from the national government.
Right to self-determination
But for Bangsamoro Transition Committee chair and MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, the people of Zamboanga City should be made to choose.
“We cannot say outright that Zamboanga City can’t be subjected to a plebiscite. Let the people of Zamboanga City decide,” he said. “The issue here is the right of the people to self-determination, the right of the governed to be asked.”
A plebiscite is set to be held in the envisioned core territory of the Bangsamoro after Congress passes the BBL. The bill seeks to formalize the creation of the Bangsamoro political entity that will replace the ARMM.
For his part, Lanao del Norte Gov. Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo appealed to lawmakers to hold Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles to her word that only six municipalities in the province will be subject to the plebiscite.
Despite his belief that Lanao del Norte “does not need the BBL,” Dimaporo said he had committed to Deles to open up the municipalities of Munai, Balaoi, Nunungan, Panta, Tangkal and Tagloan for plebiscite because he is wary of the possibility of war erupting again if the province altogether thumbs down the possibility of inclusion in the envisioned Bangsamoro region.
Six municipalities only
However, the governor said he heard rumors that other municipalities in Lanao del Norte will be included in the plebiscite.
Addressing lawmakers, Dimaporo said: “I’d like to ask Congress to keep Sec. Deles to her word because there are rumors that other municipalities will be subjected to the plebiscite. The agreement is six municipalities, nothing more.”
The six areas had voted for inclusion in the ARMM during the 2001 plebiscite.
Apart from the six municipalities of Lanao del Norte, Article II Section 2 of the proposed BBL states that the Bangsamoro core territory will be composed of the following areas:
– the present areas of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM);
– the cities of Cotabato and Isabela;
– the barangays in the municipalities of Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigcawayan, Pikit and Midsayap in the province of (North) Cotabato, that voted for the incldusion in the ARMM at the 2001 plebiscite;
– all other contiguous areas where there is a resolution of the local government unit or a petition of at least 10 percent of the qualified voters in the area asking for their inclusion at least two months prior to the conduct of the ratification of the BBL. If the votes for inclusion to the Bangsamoro reach a majority, then the said area will be included in the Bangsamoro territory. —NB, GMA News
