By LITO RULONA
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents
A CANDIDATE for congressman in the city’s 2nd District yesterday said he would revive a proposal for Congress to pass a law that would create a Bangsamoro territory in Mindanao.
The announcement, made by Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. during the “Usapang Kapayapaan” at the Rosario Pavillon of Limketkai Center, was greeted with raised eyebrows even as two of his political rivals–Councilor Ramon Tabor and lawyer Evangeline Carrasco–disagreed that a Bangsamoro law would end the decades old conflict in Mindanao.
Attending the forum organized by the Philippine Information Agency were government peace panel chair Prof. Miriam Coronel Ferrer and peace negotiators Senen Bacani, Robert Alonto, and Melaño Ulama.
Rodriguez said that if he wins in the congressional race in the city’s 2nd District, he would push for the passage of the Basic Law on Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Rodriguez said he would reintroduced the proposed Bangsamoro law that was revised in the Lower House.
“I will re-file it. This will become a priority bill of lawmakers who seek peace in Mindanao,” said Rodriguez, calling it the “best measure.”
Tabor and Carrasco stated that they were opposed to the proposed law while two other congressional candidates, former councilor Edgar Cabanlas and Celso Balat, neither expressed opposition nor favored the proposal.
According to Rodriguez, he was convinced that the proposed law would result in lasting Mindanao peace. If not, he said, the other option would be a shift to a federal form of government.
Tabor said the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law had many unconstitutional provisions while Carrasco called the proposal “dead.”
Tabor said what is needed is a law that would be applicable to all sectors, including indigenes.
Carrasco said, “We cannot obtain peace in Mindanao if the basic problems in the country, like food security, employment, housing and economic progress, are not addressed… Walay mosaka sa kabukiran og mohawid sa armas kung ang tanang basic necessities matubag sa gobyerno. Patay na ang BBL og dili kini maoy tubag.”
Cabanlas, for his part, said the BBL issue jas already become “moot and academic.”
Cabanlas said the issues should be re-examined vis-à-vis the historical context.
“Self-determination of the Bangsamoro people ang wala mahatagi sa pagtagad sa atong gobyerno. Ang isyu sa ancestral domain ang usa sa problema tungod kay gihimo sila nga second class citizens. Dunay agreement nga nahimo pero walay proper consultation,” Cabanlas said.
A fifth candidate, Celso Balat, said Mindanao would continue to see peace and order problems unless the government could pit an end to hunger.
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