The Royal Houses in Mindanao
declared their strong support for “the early establishment of the Bangsamoro
government, through the enactment into law of the GPH-MILF Bangsamoro
Transition Commission (BTC) proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL)”.
This declaration was made and manifested by the historic
signing of Declaration of Support to the Bangsamoro by the Sultans from the
different Sultanates in the entire Mindanao during the first ever Bangsamoro
Royal House Solidarity Conference held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Lanang,
Davao City
With the theme: “Bangsamoro is 1 Towards Just and Dignified
Peace”, the Royal Houses of Mindanao, which include the Sultanates of
Maguindanao, Rajah Buayan, Kabuntalan, Sulu and Borneo, Lanao, Kaagan (Davao),
and the Iranun gathered together with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
to strengthen unity among their people and make a common stand to strongly
support the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
The Royal Houses see that the BBL will bring a brighter and
better future for the Bangsamoro people as they believe that “the proposed BBL
(that) will be enacted into law and implemented... will address political
tyranny, economic torment, exploitation and other social problems.”
The members of Mindanao ’s
Royal Houses proclaimed their unified stand in the midst of the hostile debate
in Congress regarding the proposed BBL, raising fears that the Bangsamoro --
seen as a realization of the Moro people’s aspiration for self-determination --
may be endangered.
“We are here today because we have responded to the call for
unity among the Bangsamoro,” said His Royal Highness Sayyid Abdulaziz Salem
Kudarat Mastura V, Prime Sultan of Maguindao Mandanaue Darussalam.
Recalling that “the historic sovereignty of the Bangsamoro
was upheld and defended by the Moro Sultanates, especially the Sultanates of
Maguindanao and Sulu and the Rajah Buayan,” Sultan Mastura emphasized their
pivotal role to the Bangsamoro peace process.
During the conference, MILF Vice-Chairman Ghadzali Jaafar
clarified the misconceptions going around that the BBL or the Bangsamoro peace
process disrespects or disregards the Moro Sultanates for in fact, “it were the
Sultans, the Datus, and the Rajahs who have fought and never surrendered
against the Colonizers of this country,” he said.
When asked how the Sultanates could help in ensuring the
passage of the BBL, Jaafar said, “First, I hope it would help. But whether or
not it would help facilitate the passage of the BBL and whether the BBL would
be passed or not, what’s important is, the Sultans have made their voices
heard, that they have made a stand. And that this is for the unity and
solidarity of the Bangsamoro people.”
The Solidarity Conference was thus seen as a breakthrough in
focusing the common efforts of Moro Royal leaders for the brighter future of
the Bangsamoro people.
Give peace a chance
“We oppose those who change the BBL so that instead of
adding to or improving our current autonomy under the ARMM, it is instead being
reduced,” said Sultan Mastura.
He said “the Bangsamoro Peace Agreement already adequately
addresses the core demands of the Moro people for self-determination within a
framework of full and meaningful autonomy.”
“It is therefore incumbent upon every Filipino to give this
legislation a chance to build the bridge for peace,” said Bai-a-Labi sa
Kabuntalan, Bai Umaima M. Lauban-Silongan.
According to her, “antagonizing the BBL is burning the
bridge for peace.”
She also called on all detractors of the BBL to “think a
thousand times before embarking on defeating this chance for peace by riding on
the imperfections of the CAB and the BBL to fan war.”
The royalties from Lanao, the coastal areas, and even from
the Kaagans in Davao
Sultan Dr. Ibrahim Bahjin, the Paramount Sultan of the
Sultanate of Sulu and Borneo said that
“actually, we are not yet tired of war but after having fought several wars
already, did it solve the conflict? No.”
“This is perhaps the last chance for us to deliberate this
matter in peaceful means. Let us support the BBL,” he said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=753130
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