Solon urging Muslims, Christians, Lumads to pray for Bangsamoro peace

By: Pathricia Ann V. Roxas - 6 years ago

MANILA, Philippines – Maguindanao 1st District Rep. Bai Sandra Sema has filed a resolution urging Muslims, Christians, Lumads to “pray for peace in the Bangsamoro” ahead of the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Urging qualified voters to participate in the plebiscite, Sema said the law “guarantees, among others, the right of the Bangsamoro people to practice their religion and conform to their way of life even as the corresponding rights of other Filipinos within the Bangsamoro Homeland are preserved and protected.”

Sema, in filing House Resolution No. 2404 on Monday, sought the declaration of Jan. 18 as a “Day of Prayer” for the peace in the Bangsamoro.

The lawmaker also vouched that the law would “correct the historical injustice done to the Bangsamoro.”

She likewise expressed confidence that the armed struggle in the region would be resolved.

Sema also assured that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are on top of the security preparation for the plebiscite as they also have the support of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Our Army and our PNP are on top of the situation, considering that the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) are also part of those securing the areas, we have here a combined effort of the AFP and the MILF,” she said in a separate press conference on Tuesday.

Republic Act No. 11054 or the BOL, which provides for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), was enacted into law on July 27, 2018.

The law stipulates that the establishment of the BARMM be effective upon ratification of the Organic Law by the majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite.

The plebiscite for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cotabato City and Isabela City in Basilan is scheduled on January 21 while the plebiscite in Lanao del Norte and other Bangsamoro core areas is on February 6./ gsg