Efforts of Isabela City Mayor Cherrylyn Santos preventing the Moros in Basilan from holding a peaceful rally were in vain as more than ten thousand local residents Moros and settlers alike courageously gathered and conducted the activity on May 4, 2014 at the Basilan State College Compound, Isabela City.
The rally was spearheaded by the Mindanao Alliance for Peace (MAP) and local coalition of CSO’s, PO’s and NGO’s. The participants came from Sumisip, Tipo-Tipo, Albarka, Tuburan, Muhammad Ajul, Akbar municipalities and Lamitan City. The brave and determined Moros were escorted by members of the Philippine Army from their assembly area to the college campus.
One of the participants, Sitti Mariam, a resident of the city was furiously angry on Mayor Santos for refusing the conduct of the peaceful gathering in the city. She said that their rights to peacefully assemble and expression were being curtailed by Mayor Santos. She continued saying that the mayor is dividing her constituents along ethnic lines in furtherance of her political interest in Isabela City.
Despite the putting-up of checkpoints at all entry points to the city, the participants being escorted by army troopers bravely entered the city proper as members of the city police failed to stop them. One youth participant Yusuf Agpi talked to this writer saying “what kind of democracy do we have? We are being denied to gather and convey to the Philippine Congress our appeal for the speedy passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) without alterations or changes as drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commision (BTC).
Dr. Nasser A. Salain, College President of the state college warmly welcomed the participants and their guests saying that, “The purpose of our gathering today is to appeal to the two chambers to deliberate and enact the BBL because BTA is just one year from now”.
Streamers and placards dominated the venue with one saying, “Congress Love our children, pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law”.
Oscar Pamaran, one of the speakers from LGU of Lamitan City asked “Congress please act and pass the BBL because we the Moros and peace loving Filipinos are tired of conflict that ravaged our communities in Mindanao Region and the island provinces for more than 42 years”. The people of Mindanao had been deprived of development”.
Ms. Hajar Muarip from an NGO said “Kami po ay umaapela sa kongreso na madaliin ang pagtalakay sa BBL at ipasa na eto upang sa ganon makamtan na po namin ang kapayapaan lalo na sa Bangsamoro sapagkat apektado kami pati mga anak namin” (We appeal to congress to fast tract the deliberations on the BBL and pass it soonest possible time so that we can ultimately attain peace especially in Bangsamoro. We are so affected including our children)
In her message, Ms. Nuora Iklaman representing the women sector said “Hinihiling po naming sa ating mga kagalang-galang na miyembro ng Kongreso na ipasa na po ang BBL pagkat ito na lang po ang ating inaasahang daan na magbibigay ng tunay na kasagutan sa ating dekadekadang problema hindi lang para sa amin kundi para sa kapakanan ng aming mga anak at ng susunod pang mga henerasyon”(We asked our honorable lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Senate to pass the BBL because this is the only path towards ending the decades-old problem not just for us but also for the sake of our children and the generations to come).
When some speakers recalled and mentioned the oppressions committed against the Bangsamoro many if not all were so emotional and chanted Allahu Akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest). The program ended at 3PM.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/966-mindanao-alliance-for-peace-holds-rally-in-isabela-city-for-early-passage-of-bbl
One of the participants, Sitti Mariam, a resident of the city was furiously angry on Mayor Santos for refusing the conduct of the peaceful gathering in the city. She said that their rights to peacefully assemble and expression were being curtailed by Mayor Santos. She continued saying that the mayor is dividing her constituents along ethnic lines in furtherance of her political interest in Isabela City.
Despite the putting-up of checkpoints at all entry points to the city, the participants being escorted by army troopers bravely entered the city proper as members of the city police failed to stop them. One youth participant Yusuf Agpi talked to this writer saying “what kind of democracy do we have? We are being denied to gather and convey to the Philippine Congress our appeal for the speedy passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) without alterations or changes as drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commision (BTC).
Dr. Nasser A. Salain, College President of the state college warmly welcomed the participants and their guests saying that, “The purpose of our gathering today is to appeal to the two chambers to deliberate and enact the BBL because BTA is just one year from now”.
Streamers and placards dominated the venue with one saying, “Congress Love our children, pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law”.
Oscar Pamaran, one of the speakers from LGU of Lamitan City asked “Congress please act and pass the BBL because we the Moros and peace loving Filipinos are tired of conflict that ravaged our communities in Mindanao Region and the island provinces for more than 42 years”. The people of Mindanao had been deprived of development”.
Ms. Hajar Muarip from an NGO said “Kami po ay umaapela sa kongreso na madaliin ang pagtalakay sa BBL at ipasa na eto upang sa ganon makamtan na po namin ang kapayapaan lalo na sa Bangsamoro sapagkat apektado kami pati mga anak namin” (We appeal to congress to fast tract the deliberations on the BBL and pass it soonest possible time so that we can ultimately attain peace especially in Bangsamoro. We are so affected including our children)
In her message, Ms. Nuora Iklaman representing the women sector said “Hinihiling po naming sa ating mga kagalang-galang na miyembro ng Kongreso na ipasa na po ang BBL pagkat ito na lang po ang ating inaasahang daan na magbibigay ng tunay na kasagutan sa ating dekadekadang problema hindi lang para sa amin kundi para sa kapakanan ng aming mga anak at ng susunod pang mga henerasyon”(We asked our honorable lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Senate to pass the BBL because this is the only path towards ending the decades-old problem not just for us but also for the sake of our children and the generations to come).
When some speakers recalled and mentioned the oppressions committed against the Bangsamoro many if not all were so emotional and chanted Allahu Akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest). The program ended at 3PM.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/966-mindanao-alliance-for-peace-holds-rally-in-isabela-city-for-early-passage-of-bbl
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