Supreme Court facade (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Two lawmakers from Mindanao have lamented how a fellow Moro, “who never lifted a finger to work for peace and unity,” has sought to nullify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) before the Supreme Court (SC).
The province of Sulu, represented by Gov. Abdusakur Tan II, is questioning the legality of Republic Act 11054 in a petition for certiorari and prohibition filed before the high tribunal.
In the petition dated October 11, Tan asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order against the law which he claimed as “unconstitutional.”
READ: Sulu LGU asks SC to junk ‘unconstitutional’ Bangsamoro law
Anak Mindanao Reps. Amihilda Sangcopan and Makmod Mending said they were “saddened” by Tan’s move.
“While we recognize the right of every citizen to contest the state’s laws and policies through the courts, we are surprised that a fellow Moro, who never lifted a finger to work for peace and unity, would seek to nullify BOL before the high court,” the two said in a statement Tuesday night.
They said their party-list had been at the forefront of efforts to pass a Bangsamoro law acceptable to the majority of national legislators, stressing that the struggle for this has been “long, difficult, and painful for us and other Moro leaders.”
Public hearings were conducted in Mindanao before the law was approved by the two chambers of Congress.
Sangcopan and Mending said Tan had every opportunity to voice out his opposition to this legislation and suggest revisions during those days or even through mass media.
The two nonetheless expressed confidence that the landmark legislation would “stand the test of Constitutionality,” adding that “premium should be placed more in the pursuit of peace and unity.”
“It is now time for Mindanaoans to stand up and show this nation that the Bangsamoro Organic Law transcends politics of patronage and that we will unite against those who sabotage peace for their own interests,” the lawmakers said.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the BOL on July 26, 2018, or eight days after the Congress bicameral conference panel finalized the bill on July 18. It was one of his priority legislative agenda. /cbb
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