Zubiri lauds SC for not granting TRO on BOL plebiscite

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri hailed the Supreme Court (SC) for not issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

“I laud and thank the Supreme Court on their decision not to grant a TRO on the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” Zubiri said in a statement on Wednesday.

He noted that the SC’s move will allow a smooth and orderly plebiscite for the BOL, which is needed to create the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“This will now pave the way for a smooth and orderly plebiscite that I believe will usher in the peace and prosperity that we sorely need in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao,” the senator said.

The senator said he trusted the Office of the Solicitor General to “defend their measure on the cases pending in the SC” and that Congress is willing to lend a “helping hand” to strengthen their case for the BOL.

The senator also appealed to magistrates of the high court to be “liberal” in their discussion on the BOL and to consider that the BOL can be an instrument of “peace” for the Muslims in the country.

Zubiri also urged parties opposing the BOL to give the measure a “chance to uplift lives” of the Muslim community.

“We appeal as well to all parties including those who opposed the measure to give this Organic Law a chance to uplift the lives of our Muslim Brothers and Sisters after decades-long fighting and the deaths of close to a hundred thousand people due to the never-ending conflicts with government and the secessionist groups,” he said.

The Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) recently asked the SC to declare Republic Act (RA) 11054 or the BOL, which grants greater autonomy to Muslim Mindanao, as illegal and unconstitutional.

READ: Islamic accountants group asks SC to affirm legality of BOL

The Philconsa said the BOL violates Sections 18 and 19 of Article 10 of the 1987 Constitution, which allows the enactment of only one organic act for Muslim Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Senator Franklin Drilon expressed confidence that the high court will affirm the constitutionality of the BOL.

“Yes, I am confident. I personally devoted time and attention to the crafting of the law to make sure that the BOL should be compliant with the Constitution to achieve stability in the ARMM,” Drilon said in another statement.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the BOL plebiscite for Jan. 21 and Feb. 6.

READ: Comelec expects to print referendum ballots next month

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the BOL, which grants self-rule and autonomy for the Muslim south, on July 27, 2018. /ee

READ: Duterte signs Bangsamoro Organic Law