Zamboanga City rep questions provisions on territory in BBL draft

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A Mindanao congressman who has previously opposed the Bangsamoro Basic Law said Wednesday that the new draft of the law still contains contentious and questionable provisions.

 

Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat said the new BBL, which the Bangsamoro Transition Commission submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte last week, has contentious provisions on territory.

 

Under the draft BBL, the Bangsamoro core territory comprises the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal in the province of Lanao del Norte and all other barangays in the municipalities of Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigkawayan, Pikit and Midsayap that voted for inclusion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during the 2001 plebiscite."

 

Cotabato City in Maguindanao and Isabela City in Basilan are also included in the core territory.

 

But Lobregat questioned the provision that allows contiguous—or those that share a border with the core territory—areas that have a resolution from the local government unit or a petition of at least 10 percent of the registered voters may join the plebiscite that will be held to ratify the new territory.

 

“Again, that was a big issue in the last congress. What is contiguity? Is it by land, by air, by sea? Again, what is the issue? Is it local government unit down as far as the barangay? What if there is a barangay with 10 percent voters, are we going to include the barangay or the entire city for the plebiscite?” Lobregat said.

 

Zamboanga City shares a border with Zamboanga del Norte, which is not included in the proposed territory and is across the Celebes Sea from Basilan. 

 

According to "Land: Territory, Domain, and Identity", a report by the World Bank and International Organization for Migration, succedding waves of resettlement have "minoritized" Moros and indigenous peoples in Mindanao. 

 

Moros only made up 22.2 percent and IPs 13.4 percent of the population in Mindanao in 2010. Even in Moro provinces, Moros only make up 29.9 percent of the population while IPs make up 11.1 percent of the population.

 

These make it unlikely that areas outside the core territory will petition for inclusion.

 

Yet, Rep. Lobregat said, “these are the questions that really need to be clarified. I don’t think that provision should be there.”

 

During Senate hearings on the BBL in the 16th Congress, Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the city, a Spanish stronghold in colonial times, would never join the proposed Bangsamoro territory.

Lobregat also questioned the provision allowing periodic plebiscites "in the cities, municipalities, and other geographic areas which were not able to join the Bangsamoro" every five years after the ratification of the BBL to find out whether they want to join the territory.

 

“Meaning to say in 25 years there will be five plebiscites. That not right anymore,” he said.

 

Lobregat stressed that he will guard the passage of the new BBL closely.

 

“Like I said, I would be there till the very end fighting for Zamboanga City’s interests, standing firm for what is best for Mindanao, upholding the constitution and defending for the country,” Lobregat said.

 

The Zamboanga City representative also reiterated his stand that he is supportive of the lasting and equitable peace effort of the government.

 

“I always said I am for peace, I am not anti-peace, but we need a Bangsamoro Basic Law that is just, that is fair, that is acceptable, feasible and more important it is consistent with the constitution and existing law,” Lobregat said.

 

He added that if there are provisions that are seemingly for him unconstitutional or disadvantageous to Zamboanga or for Mindanao and the country “then we will start questioning the provision.”

 

President Duterte has promised to support the BBL through Congress, which is overwhelmingly controlled by a coalition led by the administration PDP-Laban party. He did not, however, ask Congress to pass the bill in his State of the Nation Address last Monday.