Zamboanga City to ask Duterte for exclusion from Bangsamoro territory

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - This early, the local government here is already appealing to leading presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to spare the city from inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro territory, a measure that Congress did not pass during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

 

But first, Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has yet to find ways to appease Duterte, who at the height of the campaign period was reportedly angered over Salazar’s stand not to support candidates who support the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

 

Duterte promised the MNLF and the MILF would have their own territory under his envisioned federal system. On the other hand, the city filed cases against MNLF chairman Nur Misuari in connection with his faction's siege of the city in 2013and was also strongly opposed to the MILF’s supposed plan of including city in the expanded autonomy.

 

The Bangsamoro Basic Law, which is based on the peace agreement between the government and the MILF, does not include Zamboanga City in the proposed core territory. 

 

Duterte won by a large margin in this city with 107,565 votes against Sen. Grace Poe, who received 84,728 votes.

 

Reports said Mayor Salazar has sent feelers to seek an audience with Duterte when he campaigned here but were turned down. A source said another attempt was made last week.

 

Salazar confirmed on Monday that feelers were sent to seek an audience with Duterte but that the meeting is meant to extend the city’s full support to Duterte as the incoming president.

 

Salazar said if given the chance to have an audience with Duterte, she will put forward four requests.

 

“For the love of the city, Number 1 is to respect our decision to respect the position of the Zamboanga City that we should not be included in the BBL now or ever. Neither our municipal waters because that is the lifeblood of our fisher folks and all the fishing and canning industries that are thriving in the city,” Salazar said.

 

She said city is also seeking permission to buy the Cabatangan property, which the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao owns.

 

Salazar said the local government also seeks the possible return of the regional center to the city. Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur was made the regional center during the Arroyo administration.

 

Salazar said they will also request the incoming administration to prioritize the construction of a new international airport in Barangay Mercedes based on the Planned Cities Extension project.

 

According to Salazar, Duterte’s intervention in these four crucial issues is very vital as it will help propel the city to progress and development in line with the aim to build back a better city after the 2013 siege.