Advocates, critics of Bangsamoro law reminded to respect each other

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Politicians campaigning for or against the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law should refrain from discourse that can derail the peace process, peace advocates said.

Former Armed Forces chief Carlito Galvez Jr., set to take over as the new presidential peace adviser, urged political groups to avoid dragging the plebiscite into their rivalries.

"Let us avoid dragging the peace process, the BOL per se, into undue political forays because one of its main objectives is to unite Mindanao’s Muslim, Christian and Lumad sectors for them to thrive together in peace," Galvez said.

Galvez was one of the guests at Wednesday’s "ulat sa bayan" of the ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, who is on his last term as the region's chief executive.

In his report to the region, Hataman asked constituents to vote in favor of the BOL during the January 21, 2019 plebiscite.

If ratified, the BOL will pave the way for the replacement of ARMM with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM, which will be headed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front until elections can be held.

Mohagher Iqbal,a senior MILF official and a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, urged voters in the proposed BARMM territory to ignore the attacks on the propriety of the BOL and ask for clarifications from competent people when in doubt.

Hataman, a staunch supporter of the peace process between the government and the MILF, said it is the whole country, not just Mindanao that would benefit from a lasting peace that the BOL can usher in through the self-governing, more empowered BARMM.

'Respect each other'

An incumbent councilor in Cotabato City, Bruce Matabalao, said sectors with opposing positions on the BOL should let voters exercise their right of suffrage freely during the January 21 plebiscite.

“Respect for each other is so important in peace-building. Let us not fight. If you are for a 'yes' vote, go for it. If you are for a 'no' vote, that is your choice and no one must harm you for having that conviction,” said Matabalo, also a supporter of the southern Mindanao peace process.

Besides Hataman and Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, among those actively endorsing the BOL are Mindanao’s top Catholic parochial leader, Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, and a Christian local executive, Lamitan City Vice Mayor Roderick Furigay.

Furigay, who also attended Hataman’s ulat sa bayan here Wednesday, said anti-BOL groups in Lamitan City in Basilan can freely move around to explain to residents why they are against ratification.

False claims, fake accounts

The issue of the BOL has become an irritant among some sectors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and in towns outside where the January 21 plebiscite will be held.

Hundreds of fictitious Facebook accounts have surfaced in recent weeks, flooded with daily posts either campaigning for or questioning the constitutionality of the BOL.

Some similar Facebook posts tagged Muslims who are against the ratification of the BOL as "hypocrites" while other posts warned Christians of persecution by Muslims once the BARMM is established.

One of the Facebook accounts also falsely said Christian women would be compelled to cover their heads with hijab and banned from eating pork once an MILF-led BARMM is in place.

Muslim and Christian lawyers and religious leaders have been trying to disprove the insinuations through forums.