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A Moro’s wish for PBBM’s 2nd SoNA
The day after tomorrow being the 4th Monday of July, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will face the nation before a joint Congress assembly for his State of the Nation Address. He will be performing the constitutionally mandated ritual of informing the Filipinos about the country’s political, financial and social condition, and about his future plans. This being his 2nd SoNA, he will likewise submit his accomplishment report card for last year which will be subjected to a surgeon’s scalpel-like scrutiny by gadflies. The politically-oriented public will be all ears to what the President will report. Heavy issues like the environment, the West Philippine Sea, and similar concerns with a global impact will be tackled. But in the Muslim Autonomous Region, Moros wish that something will be said about issues close to their hearts. Hereunder is the bucket list of issues that they hope would be addressed. Foremost of these issues which occupy the minds of Maranaw Muslims is the fate of the compensation promised by the government for victims of the 2017 Marawi siege. While there is a law that mandates its payment, it does not provide funding or the source of funding to implement the law. The burden is shifted to the Office of the President for financing. A yearly appropriation can create problems. A one-time budget appropriation similar to a block grant is ideal. Yes, an amount of P1 billion (a crumb vis-a-vis the huge damage to be compensated) was initially budgeted but it was mainly for the administrative expenditures of the Marawi Compensation Board. The processing of the claims by the MCB is in full swing and pretty soon, hopefully, they will start the process of payment. This presents a huge problem for the Board if the total budget is not predetermined. How will they distribute the money? What will happen if the government fails to appropriate a budget in the coming years (the law says five years) and some legal claimants remain unpaid? What payment mechanism will the MCB adopt? Will it wait for the completion of the processing and pay the victims pro rata based on its evaluation? Will it be on a “first come-first served basis” — the reason there is now a mad scramble by claimants to have their claims processed first? Again, this all depends upon a commitment to provide a one-time budget for the claims. Then it will save the claimants the anxiety and worry of their claims being unpaid. Corollary to this is perhaps a word from the President about Task Force Bangon Marawi. It seems the rehabilitation has reached a dead-end. Nothing is heard about the completion of the city’s rehab, and residents don’t see any ground activity on the projects yet to be finished. Admittedly, the public infrastructure projects promised by the past administration are almost complete, but the national government has an ear-splitting silence about finishing them. In fact, people have the impression the Task Force has folded its tent and become functus officio. A word or two about this will assuage the project’s completion uncertainty. Moros will likewise welcome a word from the President about the speeding up or completion of the decommissioning of the rebels so that they could be integrated into the armed or police forces to legalize the carrying of their firearms in public. Right now, Moros are bewildered about the existence of two armed forces in their area, one from the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the other, the regular defense and peace-keeping forces of the country. As we had warned before, this could be a potential flashpoint that could ignite an armed confrontation at any time. With the barangay and youth elections fast approaching, this could lead to a situation where one group, which has a registered political party, the Bangsamoro Justice Party, will be in an advantageous position with its armed militia allowed to carry their firearms during the campaign and on election day. This column empathizes with the Bangsamoro Governor Caucus which earlier raised this alarm. Will this wish merit attention from the speech writers of Malacañang? Or are the Moros shooting for the stars? As a caveat to my fellow Moros, there is a great chance these issues will not be mentioned as in past SoNAs. Prepare your minds for this possibility. *** amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post A Moro’s wish for PBBM’s 2nd SoNA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Relocating the seat of BARMM
It was an idea long awaited. Past Moro leaders of note had toyed with it but it remained just that — an idea. It never saw the light of day nor was it transmuted into fiat. Until recently when the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM took the bull by the horns to legislate it into law. It was no mean feat considering the political dynamics of the region. The problem of selecting the seat of the autonomous government had been a long drawn-out issue. It was a problem of President E. Marcos Sr.’s version of the autonomous government down to the present BARMM. It was a ticklish issue because of the multi-tribal identities of the stakeholders who would be affected. Distance and easy accessibility to the seat of power were essential elements in the choice of venue. Unfortunately, the topography of the BARMM is not contiguous but separated by water. The residents are dichotomized into, for lack of a better term, the “mainlanders” for residents of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur and the “islanders” for residents of the so-called BASULTA (Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) islands. In fact, this geographical oddity was one of the main reasons the Marcos Sr. administration had to separate the autonomous government into Autonomous Government for Central Mindanao and another for Western Mindanao. The center of government of the former was Cotabato City, while for the latter it was Zamboanga City. Not that they could not co-exist harmoniously, after all, they were part of Ummah Islamiya or the Islamic community. But it was more for convenience and the practical reason for effective governance. With the BARMM replacing the defunct autonomous governments, Cotabato City became the de facto seat of government without any formal executive or legislative decree. The principal reason for this was the availability of government buildings and other infrastructure needed by the regional government. Since then, proposal after proposal were drawn up to search for a permanent administrative seat of the autonomous government. Until recently, when it was finally decided and legislated that it would be in the coastal town of Parang, Maguindanao del Norte. Some gadflies, however, raised their eyebrows. The selected venue, by accident or design, is the home base of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which now dominates the leadership of the BARMM. Did this move bear the stamp of the consent of the “islander” residents of BARMM? This column fully agrees with the relocation site. The reason is not only because of its convenient accessibility to the Maranaws of Lanao del Sur but the decision was a product of study, planning, and consultation among stakeholders. Parang is a coastal town in the northern part of Mindanao which borders Lanao del Sur. It is traditionally a fishing community whose progress was propelled more by the logging industry because of its thick virgin rainforest. Its mountain ranges with huge forests were the reason why Camp Abubakar, the main military camp of the MILF, is nestled thereat. When this writer was the Speaker of the Regional Assembly of then President Marcos’ version of the autonomous government, we frequented the place because of its mini golf course constructed by the Philippine National Police within its regional center. There are negligible murmurs of displeasure over the BARMM decision. And these come from the unrepentant opposition who cannot see anything right in everything the BARMM does. They had even questioned the constitutionality of creating the BARMM. In this case, however, any discordant voices against the move are sure to be drowned out by the merits and popularity of the decision. There will always be naysayers and gadflies. But what counts is that due process as an essential element of a representative democratic government was observed. Meaning, the legislative protocol of consultation was observed giving everyone their “day in court.” What remains to be debated is: whether or not the town of Parang is ready for the challenge and the toll the transfer will exact upon the peace and social life of the residents. Whatever it lacks in terms of infrastructure will be filled in by the BARMM government. And we anticipate the transformation of the once laid-back town into a city. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Relocating the seat of BARMM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ANGAY-ANGAY LANG: Reflections on the Bangsamoro Right to Self-Determination (2)
[My paper written in typewriter when I was a participant at the Eleventh Annual Seminar Session on Mindanao and Sulu Cultures, Dr. Peter Gowing Memorial Research Center, Marawi City April 15 to May 10, 1985; delivered at the First Assembly of Ranao Development Forum, 18-19 May 1985, Marawi City. Slightly revised.] The Bangsamoro People’s Fight for […].....»»
ANGAY-ANGAY LANG: Reflections on the Bangsamoro Right to Self-Determination (3)
[My paper written in typewriter when I was a participant at the Eleventh Annual Seminar Session on Mindanao and Sulu Cultures, Dr. Peter Gowing Memorial Research Center, Marawi City April 15 to May 10, 1985; delivered at the First Assembly of Ranao Development Forum, 18-19 May 1985, Marawi City. Slightly revised.] The MNLF Response: Their View […].....»»
ANGAY-ANGAY LANG: Reflections on the Bangsamoro Right to Self-Determination (5)
[My paper written in typewriter when I was a participant at the Eleventh Annual Seminar Session on Mindanao and Sulu Cultures, Dr. Peter Gowing Memorial Research Center, Marawi City April 15 to May 10, 1985; delivered at the First Assembly of Ranao Development Forum, 18-19 May 1985, Marawi City. Slightly revised.] Relations with Other Lumad […].....»»
ANGAY-ANGAY LANG: Reflections on the Bangsamoro Right to Self-Determination (4)
[My paper written in typewriter when I was a participant at the Eleventh Annual Seminar Session on Mindanao and Sulu Cultures, Dr. Peter Gowing Memorial Research Center, Marawi City April 15 to May 10, 1985; delivered at the First Assembly of Ranao Development Forum, 18-19 May 1985, Marawi City. Slightly revised.] Part IV Pressures of […].....»»
Fisherfolk raise alarm over demolition of Navotas City fishing structures
“Affected fisherfolk and other residents ‘highly believe’ that the dismantling order is part of the 650-hectare reclamation project in the area.” The post Fisherfolk raise alarm over demolition of Navotas City fishing structures appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
2 hurt in another gun attack in Cotabato City
Two local residents were wounded in another ambush incident in this city at about 11:00 p.m. Monday......»»
Army troops kill BIFF training officer in Maguindanao clash
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 25 March) – Philippine Army troops killed an alleged ranking member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) during an encounter in Maguindanao del Sur last Friday. Brig. General Jose Vlademir Cagara, commander of the Army’s 1st Brigade Combat team, said troops killed Abu Halil, a training officer of the […].....»»
Zamboanga City residents warned against bushfires
Zamboanga City residents warned against bushfires.....»»
Samal residents rally vs power woes
Electricity consumers in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte province joined an interfaith prayer rally over the weekend to protest the continued power woes in their area......»»
Substantiate your opinion : Students join NCCA workshop on film reading
Students in Zamboanga, however, learned a few tips on how to appreciate or read a film better in a workshop facilitated by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts when the national agency visited the southern city last March 8 in celebration of the National Arts Month every February......»»
Ramadhan starts March 12
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 11 March) — Ramadhan in the Philippines will start Tuesday, March 12, after the crescent moon marking the beginning of the month-long fasting was not sighted Sunday night, Islamic scholars announced. Bangsamoro Mufti Abdulrauf Guliani, executive director of the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta, said the moon sighting committee at the Timako Hills, Kalanganan […].....»»
MILF lauds Senate for adopting House rebel amnesty resolutions
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 7 March) – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) lauded the Senate for adopting three resolutions of the House of Representatives that concur with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s grant of amnesty to former rebels. Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, also the MILF chair, said the granting of […].....»»
Residents oppose dividing Wao, Lanao del Sur into two towns; say BTA didn’t consult them
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 09 March) – Residents and local officials of Wao in Lanao del Sur on Thursday held a rally protesting the proposal at the Bangsamoro Parliament to divide their towns into two. Wearing red and green arm bands, Muslim and Christian residents filled the Municipal Hall grounds in the indignation rally dubbed […].....»»
Teacher, 2 others busted in Cotabato City drug den raid
Anti-narcotics agents and officials of the Bangsamoro government arrested a drug den operator who is a teacher and his two accomplices in a joint operation inside the 32-hectare regional capitol here on Saturday afternoon......»»
2 long wanted vehicle thieves arrested in Pagadian City
Two notorious carnappers implicated in no fewer than 20 heists in Zamboanga del Sur in Region 9 and in nearby provinces in the Bangsamoro region were arrested by policemen two hours after they stole a new multi-purpose motorcycle trike in Pagadian City on Tuesday night......»»
P7.2-M worth of shabu seized in two Mindanao police operations
Policemen confiscated P7.2 million worth of shabu from three dealers, one of them a government employee and the other a suspected member of a local terrorist group, in entrapment operations in Butuan City in Region 13 and in Lanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro region on Monday......»»
Cebu City’s Singapore-like goal is about instilling discipline and respect, city administrator says
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Discipline and respect are what will make Cebu City a Singapore-like city. According to Cebu City Administrator and Lawyer Collin Rosell, speaking on Friday, March 1, during the “League of Lupong Tagapamayapa – Cebu City Chapter General Assembly and Board of Directors Election,” held near a pier in Cebu City, Mayor.....»»
Bill creating 32 single-member parliamentary districts in the BARMM passed
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 29 February) — The bill creating 32 single-member parliamentary districts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was passed Wednesday night by a vote of 47 in favor, one against and three abstentions. Parliamentary Bill 267, introduced on December 18, 2023 by the Government of the Day and signed […].....»»