EU vows support for Muslim’s Autonomous Region creation plebiscite in Philippines

The BOL seeks to create the BARMM, which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

MANILA, Jan 27, 2019, PhilStar. The European Union (EU) delegation to the Philippines yesterday congratulated the country for the peaceful conduct of the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). “The creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is a significant milestone in the history of the Philippines,” the EU said in a statement, reported the Philippine Star.

The BOL seeks to create the BARMM, which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

A staunch supporter of the Mindanao peace process throughout the years, the EU urged all sides to pursue a peaceful solution as it vowed to provide substantial financial support for the process.

“The EU is prepared to continue to support the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and to work closely with the relevant stakeholders towards long-lasting peace, development and prosperity for the benefit of Mindanao and the Filipino people,” it said.

Vice President Leni Robredo hailed the ratification of the BOL, saying it is a “historic victory” that every Filipino should be proud of.

“For the longest time, many might have thought that our dream of peace in Mindanao will remain a dream. Now, after so many years, finally, this dream is within our reach,” Robredo said in Filipino.

The Vice President said she is hopeful that peace will bring a good life to each and every resident in the Bangsamoro region.

“Let’s remain vigilant and support this continuing process, as this is not yet the end of our fight for peace,” Robredo said.

Robredo said the government must ensure that the ratification of the BOL will serve as the foundation to strengthen the institution that will bring a better economy and responsible local government in the newly created Bangsamoro region.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) welcomed the ratification of BOL, saying they have been dreaming of this for over 50 years.

“We at the BTC which has been pushing for the BOL, wish to thank the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for a peaceful, orderly and credible free elections. Some 1.5 million people said yes to peace and yes to Bangsamoro,” BTC commissioner Susana Salvador Anayatin said.

For his part, commissioner Said Shiek said the new law could address years of conflict in Mindanao.

“The BOL is the antidote to almost five decades of conflict here in Mindanao,” Shiek said.

One Bangsamoro Movement president Alan Balangi said the ratification signals the end of long-time hostilities in Mindnao.

“We now have a strong government, called Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, that will put a stop to the war in Mindanao that had killed so many people. We are thankful to those who supported the BOL,” he said.

Following the positive outcome of the plebiscite, foreign investors are set to develop an P8-billion banana plantation in the BARMM, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.

Piñol said a Bangsamoro group representing owners of 7,000 hectares of land at Barira, Maguindanao has inked an agreement with Russian and Swiss investors.

Former Buldon mayor Taungan Macasandag and former vice mayor Nasrudin Maluag represented the Bangsamoro, while French-Russian businessman Robert Gaspar represented TechIron Resources Inc. and Solway Group.

The second leg

With the BOL now ratified, the Comelec will go full swing into preparations for the second leg of the plebiscite in 28 barangays in North Cotabato on Feb. 6.

The military and the police are also gearing up for the second round of plebiscite, this time to be held in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato.

“Preparations are going very well. The challenge here is to convince other towns of Lanao del Norte to vote yes to allow six (towns) to join the BOL,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they have started the “pre-planning” for the Feb. 6 plebiscite in the 28 barangays which are not part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but are contiguous to the territories covered by the BOL.

“It’s not that we were anticipating the outcome of the Jan. 21 plebiscite. We just cannot wait for the final results before we start with our preparations because if we do that, we might run out of time,” Jimenez said.

The Comelec, sitting as National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC), had ratified BOL, replacing ARMM with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM).

There are 2,167,244 registered voters for the plebiscite but 1,844,873 actually voted, representing 85.13 percent voter turn out.

Official canvassing results showed the “yes” votes won in territories under ARMM with 1.98 million against the 1.78 million votes for “no.”

Cotabato City, which is not covered by ARMM, will be included in BARMM after the “yes” vote got 36,682 votes as against 24,994 “no” votes.

Isabela City in Basilan, however, will not be included in the BARMM after “no” won with 22,441 votes against “yes” with 19,032 votes. This is despite the fact that voters in the island province of Basilan have consented to the city’s inclusion with 144,640 votes for “yes” and 8,487 votes for “no.”

Comelec-NPBOC chairman Sheriff Abas proclaimed the ratification of BOL late Friday.

With the favorable outcome of the plebiscite on BOL, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said he is proposing that Malacañang appoint Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari as one of the leaders in the BARMM.

Zubiri said Misuari could be appointed as ceremonial leader or “Wal?,” an Arabic word whose literal meanings include custodian, protector, helper and friend.

Zubiri said Misuari had been left out from the creation of the new Bangsamoro region. He suggested the MNLF should be appointed to a position at the BTC.

Cecille Suerte Felipe, Janvic Mateo, Sheila Crisostomo, Jaime Laude

Share it


Exclusive: Beyond the Covid-19 world's coverage