Pro-BBL groups barred from Senate hearing

A MEMBER of a pro-BBL group joins a rally ouside the venue of a Senate hearing on the draft law that would create a new autonomous region in Mindanao.RAFFY LERMA

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Several women wearing white shirts printed with peace statements, were barred from entering the venue of the Senate hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) here on Thursday.

READ: Marcos: Exclusion of stakeholders brought to fore in BBL hearings

Jasmin Sinsuat, regional program officer of the Non-Violent Peace Force, said she did not expect to be refused access to the public hearing just because she was wearing a shirt printed with “Be faithful to the Peace Agreement.”

“What’s wrong with my shirt? I did not violate any law by wearing this,” she said as a number of policemen led her and her companions out of the Royce Convention Center of the Grand Astoria Hotel here, venue of the Senate hearing.

Saudi Caluang, of the Bangsamoro Network for Solidarity and Accountability, questioned authorities who prevented those wearing “statement shirts” from attending what was supposed to be a public hearing.

Caluang was wearing the same shirt, but was allowed entry as she is one of the resource speakers in the event.

According to Alshaimah Muktadir, spokesperson of the Zambasulta Contact Group, her placard-bearing group was told to leave the venue.

“We were not making any noise. We only showed in our placards that we were hoping for the passage of BBL,” Muktadir said.

Muktadir said they only wanted to show to Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Alan Cayetano, who are being accused of bias against Moros, that there are residents in Zamboanga City who are for the passage of the BBL.

Zamboanga City officials are known to be against Moro autonomy that includes the city.

Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar, during the hearing, said all 98 villages in her city do not want to be part of the Bangsamoro, which will be created through the BBL.

READ: Zamboanga City shall never be under Bangsamoro—Mayor Climaco

Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, city police chief, said his men were just following security protocol and instructions from the Senate’s sergeant at arms when they refused to allow entry to those who were wearing statement shirts and carrying placards.

Casimiro said the protocol applies to both anti- and pro-BBL groups.

Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos who had been tagged in countless cases of human rights violations during his dictatorship, said the hearing was not for demonstrators.

“They can demonstrate freely whatever they want but our purpose here is to listen and not to watch a demonstration,” said the senator, whose family had also been accused of kleptocracy during Marcos’ more than 20-year reign as ruler. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao