COTABATO CITY, Philippines — More than 40 political leaders in Sulu have pledged support for the Bangsamoro Organic Law despite the provincial governor's petition against the law at the Supreme Court.
The leaders have affixed their signatures to a manifesto indicating their support for the law, which will create a new region to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and which is up for ratification at a plebiscite on January 21, 2019.
RELATED: Dureza: Bangsamoro law will surpass 'constitutional test'
Key leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said Tuesday that among the signatories are former ARMM regional Vice Gov. Benjamin Loong and former Sulu vice governors Abdel Anni and Munib Estino.
The mayors of Indanan, Talipao, Luuk, Estino and Tongkil towns as well as Rep. Monir Arbison (Sulu) have signed the manifesto.
They have promised to campaign for a 'yes' vote in next year's plebiscite, which will be held in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi as well as in several towns in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato.
"We are thankful to these peace-loving Tausug leaders," Sammy Gambar, secretary-general of the MILF's United Bangsamoro Justice Party, said. The UBJP is focused on the plebiscite and is not fielding candidates for the local elections next May.
Von Al-Haq, spokesman of the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, said there is still time for Sulu-based politicians to talk to their constituents and convince them of the benefits of ratifying the BOL.
Also indicating their support were representatives of Sulu's Tulawie, Amin, Arbison and Omar clans from vote-rich towns in the island province.
For peace advocacy groups in central Mindanao, the document was contrary to assertions by former Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan Sr. that voters in the province are against the inclusion of Sulu into the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM.
The BOL, if ratified via a plebiscite, shall pave the way for the replacement of ARMM with the BARMM, which is to have a wider scope of political, fiscal and administrative powers. The MILF will lead the BARMM in the transition period until elections are held in the new region.
Loong, whose brother, the late Hadji Tupay, had served as Sulu governor and congressman, said they are certain that the BOL will address the Moro secessionist issue hounding Southern Mindanao for five decades now.
Tan’s son, the incumbent governor of Sulu, Abdusakur, Jr., has asked the Supreme Court to junk the BOL for being unconstitutional.
RELATED: ARMM governor laments Sulu’s opposition to Bangsamoro law
Bobby Benito of ARMM’s Regional Reconciliation and Unification Commission said Tuesday the gesture of the Tausug leaders is a big boost to efforts of the MILF and President Rodrigo Duterte to put a negotiated closure to the now 50-year Moro struggle for self-governance.
"This peace process is inclusive. It involves all Moro communities, the Christian and the Lumad sectors," he said.
Benito said even Mindanao’s top Catholic leader, Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, former archbishop of the Diocese of Cotabato, is a staunch endorser of the government-MILF peace process.
The MILF had forged two compacts with Malacañang, the 2012 Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro and, subsequently, the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro.