Lorenzana, other Cabinet officials rally for BOL

Some members of the Cabinet led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at a grand rally for the the historic plebiscite of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Photo by Frances Mangosing/INQUIRER.net

JOLO, Sulu — Some members of the Cabinet led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana trooped to Sulu on Thursday to throw support behind the historic plebiscite of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

The grand rally organized by the Moro National Liberation Front was attended by an estimated 13,000 people at the Mindanao State University.

Present with Lorenzana from the national government were National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.

“Help us achieve the overwhelming victory of the BOL because this is the marching order of the President,” said MNLF chairman Yusop Jikiri.

All officials campaigned for the victory of the plebiscite set on Jan. 21 and Feb. 6, promising peace and prosperity in the Muslim region.

Not everyone seemed to be in favor of the plebiscite, however. Posters that read “BOL Ayaw na! Federalism Ikaw na!” and “No to BOL. Yes to Federalism” were also seen along the road.

Sulu Governor Toto Tan, who was not at the event, has expressed support for the proposed federal government of President Rodrigo Duterte but has questioned the constitutionality of the BOL.

If ratified, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will be replaced with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“Through the BARMM, the socio-economic potentials of Muslim Mindanao will be strengthened,” Lorenzana said. /je