Isko Moreno assures support to BARMM if elected president; thanks Gov. Catamco for warm welcome in Cotabato

Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso campaigning

Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso on Monday vowed that if elected president, his administration will continue to support the Bangsamoro government to sustain its momentum towards long-lasting peace and provide its people with the minimum basic needs – housing, hospitals and schools.

Moreno made the assurance after paying a courtesy call to the officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) transition government led by Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al-hajj Murad” Ebrahim.

“So, of all those things that are written in those laws ay ipatutupad na lang natin so that there will be continuity, there will be predictability, yun ang importante siguro sa mga naguusap-usap na panig. May awa ang Diyos, sa tulong ninyo palarin tayo, ipatutupad natin yung marapat lamang para sa bawat Pilipino,” said Moreno in an interview with reporters.

“Kumbaga, at least may commonality na nandyan na yung batas, nagkaunawaan na, then let’s move forward to coming together, build back better, para ang lahat ng mga hangarin ay makamit naman kasi importante yung continuity program at yung mga nai-kompromiso ng mga bawat panig matupad. Especially sa parte ng gobyerno, sapagkat gobyerno naman ang naghain ng mga solusyon para sa gusto nating makamit na mapayapang komunidad,” Moreno said.

Besides faithfully abiding with the provisions set forth in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), Moreno vowed additional support for the Bangsamoro people in the form of more housing, schools and hospitals in the region.

“Alam nila yung kakailanganin nila and I introduce yung akin namang personal na paniniwala sa pag-gogobyerno, shinare ko sa kanila. Sabi ko ‘on top of this law, on top of what you are wishing for, basta ako ang aasahan nila sa akin minimum basic needs, housing, education, hospital, jobs, sinabi ko yun kay Chairman,” Moreno said.

If elected president, Moreno vowed his administration will pursue a “Life and Livelihood” economic policy that aims to address poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality and social injustice through an inclusive and equitable infrastructure development program as spelled out under his 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda.

To achieve this, the first two years of an Isko Moreno presidency will focus on building facilities that will provide the minimum basic needs of the people – quality housing, education and health care. “It’s always about the people, and I think they are now in a better position to govern themselves with the support of the national government,” he said.

The 47-year-old presidential candidate pointed out it is the least that he can do to honor those who paid the ultimate price in the decades-long struggle for justice and a better future for the Bangsamoro people.

“May awa ang Diyos, sisikat din ang araw sa ating lahat. Dahil kung hindi man napakinabangan ngayon lahat ng hinagpis, pagbuwis ng buhay, pagdanak ng dugo sa mga nagdaan, napakinabangan naman yung inaasam na kapayapaan at kasaganahan ng kanilang salinlahi, mga anak at susunod na henerasyon,” Moreno said.

The establishment of BARMM in 2019 was the culmination of several years of peace talks between the Philippine government and several autonomist groups, particularly the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that Ebrahim continues to chair.

A framework agreement known as the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro was negotiated between the national government and the MILF in 2014. After continued negotiations and debates over certain provisions, the Congress of the Philippines created and ratified the Bangsamoro Organic Law that was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 26, 2018.

Last October 28, President Rodrigo Duterte enacted Republic Act 11593, which reset the first election in the BARMM to May 2025, effectively extending the Bangsamoro transition period from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2025, when the first set of elected officials shall have taken their oaths of office.

Moreno said he is very grateful to Ebrahim for the warm welcome and show of support and confidence to his candidacy. Ebrahim virtually endorsed Mayor Isko when he greeted him as “our incoming president” during Moreno’s courtesy call to members of the BARRM government.

In Kidapawan City, Moreno thanked Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco for her warm hospitality during his courtesy call to her office on Monday. Hundreds of adoring residents, city hall employees, and even officials swarmed Moreno for a chance to have a photo taken with him upon his arrival at the provincial capitol.

Joining Moreno in the visit were Aksyon senatorial candidates Samira Gutoc, Dr. Carl Balita, Jopet Sison and former Agrarian Reform Secretary Atty. John Castriciones, who is also the president of the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee.

Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu accompanied Moreno and his team to the provincial capital and was the one who introduced them to Gov. Catamco, the 25h governor and 3rd female governor of the province when she was elected to the position in 2019.

Gutoc, who hails from Marawi City, said a short prayer before briefly talking about her plans and programs once given a chance to become a senator of the land. Balita and Sison, likewise, introduced themselves to the Cotabato governor and explained why they are running for the Senate like Castriciones of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

The Senate bets are also one is saying that Mayor Isko is the right person to become the next president of the country and lead the people for the next six years.

“Ako simple lamang ang sasabihin ko, kailangan ko po ang tulong nyo. Andito kami mag-iikot, humihingi ng tulong ninyo at pagkakataon and I think it’s high time for us to move forward on the things, especially what happened in the past and to be reminded of those things so not to repeat those mistakes and whatever that we can do to build in the past. Together we can build back together and be better,” Moreno said.

Catamco, meanwhile, thanked Moreno and the party for choosing Cotabato as one of their stops in the Mindanao leg of their campaign sorties.

“Thank you for dropping by. Kahit papaano ay nagpunta po kayo dito sa amin sa province at least nakita nyo rin kami dito. Sa amin naman welcome ang lahat ng mga candidates na marining ng taong bayan kung sino ba dapat ang ating ihalal. So, pasalamat ako dahil nagpunta kayo dito kasama pa si Dong. Tumawag ng personal at di ako makahindi kay Dong. Magkasama kami dati sa Congress, magkatabi sa Congress,” Catamco said.

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