Posted to the Mindanao Examiner (Dec 3, 2020): Misuari silent on proposed BARMM extension
MORO NATIONAL Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari remains silent on the issue of the proposed extension of the interim Bangsamoro government for another 3 years as Sulu - one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region - flatly rejected the proposition being pushed by Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim.
Nur Misuari (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Ebrahim, also chieftain of the rival group Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is pushing for the extension of the interim government based on the recommendation of the peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus (MPC) following its so-called “rapid midterm review” on the Bangsamoro transition period.
The extension of the interim government would also extend Ebrahim’s term and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and those holding key positions in the regional government. Ebrahim also met with President Rodrigo Duterte recently to lobby the proposed extension even without consulting the governors and mayors and the Muslims in the region.
Misuari has not issued a statement on the proposal and Muslims are waiting for his stand on the issue.
Tausug Manifesto
Ebrahim, also chieftain of the rival group Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is pushing for the extension of the interim government based on the recommendation of the peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus (MPC) following its so-called “rapid midterm review” on the Bangsamoro transition period.
The extension of the interim government would also extend Ebrahim’s term and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and those holding key positions in the regional government. Ebrahim also met with President Rodrigo Duterte recently to lobby the proposed extension even without consulting the governors and mayors and the Muslims in the region.
Misuari has not issued a statement on the proposal and Muslims are waiting for his stand on the issue.
Tausug Manifesto
Gov. Sakur Tan
But Sulu has cited various reasons for rejecting the proposed extension, according to a manifesto passed November 17 by the Provincial Board after consulting with municipal mayors and peoples’ organizations, among other sectors.
The manifesto said the Bangsamoro Parliament and the Regional Government have not delivered even the most basic of government services, as mandated, to Sulu. And for almost 2 years, all it delivered were the retrenchment and separation from services of regional employees causing a great distraught to the affected and their families.
It said that after almost 2 years, “all they can afford to banner is but the passing of an Administrative Code while the administration of component localities, in particular, the insular provinces, were left to fend for themselves.”
The manifesto also said BARMM’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Sulu, thus far, have been unsubstantial and wanting, almost negligible; And to allow the extension of the transition (period) would be tantamount to escape judgment by the constituents of the BARMM on the performance of the latter vis-a-vis its capability to administer a region, and would be a blatant denial of the people’s constitutional right of suffrage to which the BOL has been incorporated into, and thus requiring constitutional amendment or legislative intervention, failing which possible legal redress maybe sough.
It further said “that the region and the country in general, should be spared the humility and made a laughing stock for perpetuating the condescending brand of a failed experiment.”
“The question should be asked to those who are in the seat of authority in the BARMM on why are they so hesitant to submit themselves to an election when even before the transition they have repeatedly boasted of their readiness and preparedness to rule and govern; and how could they have the moral ascendancy to sit as an authority over a region when they are devoid of a mandate by the true will of the people, thereby casting doubts on their platform of so-called “Moral Governance?”, the manifesto reads.
It also called on the Office of the President, House of Representatives and the Senate, and Constitutional Commissions and other concerned groupings and individuals and the BARMM general populace to disallow and deny all attempts and maneuverers to extend the tenure of the BTA.
It said that aspiring members of the Bangsamoro Parliament should be compelled to submit themselves before the true will of the people to legitimize their mandate through the electoral process as set and scheduled by the Constitution.
Sulu Governor Sakur Tan said he received reports that Basilan and Lanao del Sur provinces are also opposed to the proposed extension of the interim Bangsamoro government. “We received reports that Basilan and Lanao are also opposed to the extension of the interim Bangsamoro government,” he told The Zamboanga Post newspaper.
Concerns
But Sulu has cited various reasons for rejecting the proposed extension, according to a manifesto passed November 17 by the Provincial Board after consulting with municipal mayors and peoples’ organizations, among other sectors.
The manifesto said the Bangsamoro Parliament and the Regional Government have not delivered even the most basic of government services, as mandated, to Sulu. And for almost 2 years, all it delivered were the retrenchment and separation from services of regional employees causing a great distraught to the affected and their families.
It said that after almost 2 years, “all they can afford to banner is but the passing of an Administrative Code while the administration of component localities, in particular, the insular provinces, were left to fend for themselves.”
The manifesto also said BARMM’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Sulu, thus far, have been unsubstantial and wanting, almost negligible; And to allow the extension of the transition (period) would be tantamount to escape judgment by the constituents of the BARMM on the performance of the latter vis-a-vis its capability to administer a region, and would be a blatant denial of the people’s constitutional right of suffrage to which the BOL has been incorporated into, and thus requiring constitutional amendment or legislative intervention, failing which possible legal redress maybe sough.
It further said “that the region and the country in general, should be spared the humility and made a laughing stock for perpetuating the condescending brand of a failed experiment.”
“The question should be asked to those who are in the seat of authority in the BARMM on why are they so hesitant to submit themselves to an election when even before the transition they have repeatedly boasted of their readiness and preparedness to rule and govern; and how could they have the moral ascendancy to sit as an authority over a region when they are devoid of a mandate by the true will of the people, thereby casting doubts on their platform of so-called “Moral Governance?”, the manifesto reads.
It also called on the Office of the President, House of Representatives and the Senate, and Constitutional Commissions and other concerned groupings and individuals and the BARMM general populace to disallow and deny all attempts and maneuverers to extend the tenure of the BTA.
It said that aspiring members of the Bangsamoro Parliament should be compelled to submit themselves before the true will of the people to legitimize their mandate through the electoral process as set and scheduled by the Constitution.
Sulu Governor Sakur Tan said he received reports that Basilan and Lanao del Sur provinces are also opposed to the proposed extension of the interim Bangsamoro government. “We received reports that Basilan and Lanao are also opposed to the extension of the interim Bangsamoro government,” he told The Zamboanga Post newspaper.
Concerns
Murad Ebrahim (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Ebrahim said he fears that he may not win should the elections push through and that is why there is a need to extend the term of the interim government. “We are very concerned kasi ang tingin namin, nag-i-start pa lang kami. And then parang wala pa kaming tangible na accomplishment talaga na maipakita namin. So ‘yun ang challenge sa amin, na kung mag-eleksyon, baka sabihin ng mga tao, wala naman ginawa ito,” he said in a podcast interview on November 13 with journalist Christian Esguerra on Press One.
He said new transition schedule might not be enough to complete systemic and structural changes in the region, including the crucial decommissioning of combatants under the peace deal’s normalization process. “Kasi nga nakita natin na kailangan talaga na meron. Halimbawa, mabuti kung talagang siguradong manalo kami (in 2022 elections). Pero walang assurance ‘yun kasi anybody’s game na pagka-eleksyon na. Pag hindi, ano mangyayari dun sa other aspects ng negotiation?” he told Esguerra.
Esguerra’s report said BARMM was allocated a much bigger budget compared with the old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Its block grant is worth P65.3 billion in this year’s appropriations law, on top of a P10-billion special development fund it was supposed to receive. (Mindanao Examiner)
Ebrahim said he fears that he may not win should the elections push through and that is why there is a need to extend the term of the interim government. “We are very concerned kasi ang tingin namin, nag-i-start pa lang kami. And then parang wala pa kaming tangible na accomplishment talaga na maipakita namin. So ‘yun ang challenge sa amin, na kung mag-eleksyon, baka sabihin ng mga tao, wala naman ginawa ito,” he said in a podcast interview on November 13 with journalist Christian Esguerra on Press One.
He said new transition schedule might not be enough to complete systemic and structural changes in the region, including the crucial decommissioning of combatants under the peace deal’s normalization process. “Kasi nga nakita natin na kailangan talaga na meron. Halimbawa, mabuti kung talagang siguradong manalo kami (in 2022 elections). Pero walang assurance ‘yun kasi anybody’s game na pagka-eleksyon na. Pag hindi, ano mangyayari dun sa other aspects ng negotiation?” he told Esguerra.
Esguerra’s report said BARMM was allocated a much bigger budget compared with the old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Its block grant is worth P65.3 billion in this year’s appropriations law, on top of a P10-billion special development fund it was supposed to receive. (Mindanao Examiner)
http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2020/12/misuari-silent-on-proposed-barmm.html
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