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THE proposed Bangsamoro law aims to end the marginalization of Muslim Filipinos, and bring social justice through a new and more inclusive governmental structure in the Bangsamoro, said Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District.

Rodriguez, who is main sponsor of the proposed Basic Law on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR) and chair of the House’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), assured Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Cerilles that the BLBAR would uphold the Bangsamoro aspiration within the framework of the 1987 Constitution.

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“We cannot deny the fact that we have a (Muslim) minority in the country. [This] minority should be given proper recognition and that [to address their aspirations], they have appealed for self-autonomy,” Rodriguez said.

“We would like to give the minority a chance to express their voice [through this legislation],” he said.

Rodriguez stressed that the proposed Bangsamoro law is different from the original draft of the BBL to ensure that the proposed legislative measure will surpass constitutional scrutiny of the Supreme Court but still cater to the needs and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for meaningful autonomy.

“We are giving them additional amount because they are the ones paying for their own social services. There is a structural defect on the Armm and that is why we are having a new law to fix this,” Rodriguez said.

“That is why we are changing the Armm through a new law. It was an opportunity that the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) has agreed to [abandon] their arms as long as the government would provide them [the Bangsamoro people with] genuine autonomy.”

Rodriguez also assured Cerilles that the Bangsamoro parliament would function within the framework of the Constitution. The additional funding for Bangsamoro through the proposed block grant would be used for the development of the conflict-affected areas in the region.

“They cannot enact laws that would violate the national laws,” he said.

“In [the] Zamboanga [peninsula], [local governments] are not paying for the teachers but in the Bangsamoro, they are the ones paying for the social services in the autonomous region. It is not a big disparity. That is what it is. Certain services are devolved in this region. We are giving them additional amount because they are the one paying for their own social services,” Rodriguez said.

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