Bangsamoro law gets Catholic push as plebiscite nears

FOR PEACE A resident of Lamitan, Basilan province, attends a grand rally for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law on Wednesday. —JULIE ALIPALA

Catholic leaders in Mindanao on Thursday urged residents of the island to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to bring peace and progress to the war-torn South.

“After many failed attempts, this may be the last concrete chance for a just and lasting peace in Mindanao,” a group called Mindanao Catholic Church Leaders for Peace said in a statement.

The group — composed of bishops, educators and humanitarians — issued the statement three days before residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Isabela City and Cotabato City vote in a plebiscite to ratify or reject the BOL.

Another vote will be held on Feb. 6 in Lanao del Norte (except Iligan City) and six towns in Cotabato that may want to join the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

If the BOL is ratified, the BARMM will replace the ARMM as the new autonomous region for Muslims in Mindanao.

Peace deal

In their statement, the Catholic leaders said the BOL was not just another piece of legislation but a peace agreement that involved the future development of Mindanao.

Among the Catholic leaders who signed the statement were Cardinal Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro and Bishop Edwin de la Peña of Marawi.

According to the Catholic leaders, the BOL deals with the “historical injustices” against Muslims and it represents the “mutual acceptance” by both sides in the decadeslong conflict of the establishment of a new Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao.

“We are aware that many challenges will continue to confront the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority over the next three years as well as the future elected members of the Bangsamoro parliament,” the group said.

Still, it said, it is left to the residents of Mindanao to ensure the participatory and viable functioning of the new autonomous region.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has signed a peace agreement with the government, is leading the campaign for the ratification of the BOL.

The establishment of the BARMM is the last step to the completion of the peace accord.

No rally permit

President Duterte is traveling to Cotabato City on Friday to campaign for the BOL, in opposition to the local leader, Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, who is campaigning for the defeat of the proposed Bangsamoro charter.

Sayadi said on Thursday that supporters of the BOL had failed to get a permit for the peace rally to be attended by Mr. Duterte.

She, however, suspended classes at all levels in the city to give way to the crowds expected to join the rally.

Dickson Hermoso, assistant secretary at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, said one of the organizers of the rally had secured a permit to hold the event from ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman.

Hermoso said the rally would be held at the ARMM compound.

“I think it’s not necessary to ask for a permit from the city government because the event will be inside the ARMM compound and we have already coordinated with the security forces to ensure the safety of the people,” Hermoso said.

Peace and order

Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, on Thursday ordered troops to secure the Jan. 21 plebiscite.

Madrigal also reminded soldiers to be “nonpartisan,” not only in the plebiscite but also in the midterm elections in May.

The military is deploying 10,000 troops to areas where the plebiscite will be held.

The Philippine National Police is expected to deploy the same number of officers to secure the vote.

The establishment of the BARMM is seen as the end of conflict in Mindanao.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told foreign correspondents on Thursday that the establishment of the BARMM was also expected to put an end to bad administration in the Muslim region and possibly prevent the growth of extremism in Mindanao.

Lanao del Norte opposition

The MILF has pledged to respect the voters’ decision, according to Lanao del Norte Rep. Khalid Dimaporo.

Dimaporo said on Wednesday that his father, fellow Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo, and MILF commander Abdullah Macapaar met in a military camp earlier this week and agreed to ensure peace during the plebiscite.

The Dimaporos, the most influential clan in Lanao del Norte, oppose the inclusion of six towns in their province in the BARMM. —REPORTS FROM TINA G. SANTOS, JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE, MARLON RAMOS, JULIE ALIPALA, TAHER SOLAIMAN AND SHEILA MAE DELA CRUZ