Robredo mulls creation of Cabinet post for Bangsamoro development
MANILA, Philippines — A potential Robredo administration could see the establishment of a Cabinet position to help oversee development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, according to one of the senatorial candidates in her ticket.
“We will also try to study the possibility of creating a Cabinet position that will oversee iyong (the) Bangsamoro development. So it’s a Cabinet position for the Bangsamoro,” former Rep. Teddy Baguilat (Ifugao) said during a forum on the region featuring representatives of five presidential candidates, including Robredo.
Baguilat, who represented Robredo as she barnstormed the Bangsamoro region, said the involvement of a president is essential to ensure the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which created the BARMM and paved the way for the establishment of its own government, parliament and judicial system.
He added it is important to strengthen relations between the national government and the Bangsamoro government.
“Vice President Leni Robredo has made it her priority to ensure na ‘pag siya ang maging presidente, ay maganda ang coordination from the national, regional hanggang sa local levels,” Baguilat said.
(Vice President Leni Robredo has made it her priority to ensure that if she becomes president, there would be good coordination from the national, regional down to the local levels.)
‘Next president’
Robredo was among the co-authors of the Bangsamoro law in the 16th Congress.
In a meeting with the BARMM Cabinet on Wednesday, Robredo said it was an “emotional decision” for her to co-author the measure as this was part of the advocacy of her late husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.
“It was an emotional decision to be a co-author of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, because I felt I would be continuing the advocacy that … was left unfinished because of his death,” she said.
This version of the Bangsamoro law, however, was not passed after a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao between Special Action Force commandos and gunmen that included Moro Islamic Liberation Front members stalled progress on the measure — an incident that was acknowledged both by Robredo and BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim in their remarks during the meeting.
Developments on the Bangsamoro law only resumed under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, who signed the bill into law in 2018.
Robredo vowed that should she get elected as president, her administration will fully support the Bangsamoro region.
“This is just to affirm our 100% commitment that should we be given the chance to lead this country, I will be with you 100% making sure that all available government help will be at your disposal to make sure that under my administration, we will be able to really achieve what we have longed for for so long,” she said.
Without directly endorsing Robredo, Ebrahim said they are looking forward to a Robredo presidency.
“We look forward for the vice president to be our next president in order to achieve the continuity we need for the implementation of the peace process,” he said.
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