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April 2015

The long journey to Bangsamoro, a timeline

By BONG D. FABE

 ON March 27, 2014, the whole world joined the Philippines in rejoicing over the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the final peace agreement entered into by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The signing of the CAB, witnessed by dignitaries from all over the world, paved the way for the drafting of the (now controversial) Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a piece of legislation that will implement the CAB and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) that was signed in October 2012.

What began in 1996 during the Ramos administration officially ended (at least on paper) on that historical day in March 2014. But in between those very long 16 years were various roadblocks, challenges and detours that threaten to cut the “peace journey” short. But thanks the GPH and the MILG, both their peace panels stayed the course of peace and labored to forge a peaceful political settlement to the decades-old “Mindanao problem.”Read More »The long journey to Bangsamoro, a timeline

Rufus: BBL is basically federalism with another name

Frankin Quijano speaks up in the TULAY KAMI meeting with Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. He and Rodriguez both agree that the BBL paves the way for Federalism.
Frankin Quijano speaks up in the TULAY KAMI meeting with Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. He and Rodriguez both agree that the BBL paves the way for Federalism.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the adhoc committee on the BBL in the House of Representatives, has said that the Bangsamoro Basic Law is really federalism with another name.

The BBL gives 58 exclusive powers to the Bangsamoro government and only nine reserved powers to the national government. Aside from that, 14 concurrent powers plus 11 additional powers will be shared by both the Bangsamoro and the central/national government.Read More »Rufus: BBL is basically federalism with another name

Tulay KaMi urged Congress for more liberality in interpreting BBL

Tulay Kami

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Tulay Kalinaw Mindanaw (Tulay KaMi or Bridge of Peace in Mindanaw) leaders and other civil society organizations (CSOs) in Mindanao are urging congressmen, especially Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, to extend more liberality in interpreting the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and not be shackled by legalities.

This is after Rodriguez, chairman of the Adhoc Committee on the BBL, said that eight out of the 250 provisions in the BBL should be deleted because these are unconstitutional.

“We will remove these provisions so as to strengthen the BBL so that when it is questioned before the Supreme Court, it will not be declared unconstitutional like what happened with the MOA-AD in 2008,” he said.Read More »Tulay KaMi urged Congress for more liberality in interpreting BBL

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