BARMM solon calls for calm after SC ruling on Sulu separation

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 10, 2024): BARMM solon calls for calm after SC ruling on Sulu separation (By Edwin Fernandez)

BARMM Member of Parliament Laisa Alamia. (Photo from Alamia’s Facebook)

COTABATO CITY – A lawmaker in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) urged political leaders and peace advocates to stay calm and open-minded following the Supreme Court (SC) ruling that severs Sulu from the autonomous region.

“As we move forward, it is essential that all stakeholders remain committed to the peace process. The true measure of success lies not in legal victories or political power but in the lasting peace, prosperity, and dignity of the Bangsamoro people,” BARMM Parliament member Laisa Alamia said in a statement Tuesday.

Alamia emphasized the need for dialogue and inclusivity, noting that the ruling highlighted the importance of strategic thinking in addressing the complex issues ahead.

“There are many complicated questions that require equally complicated answers as we wait for the actual decision of the SC to be published,” Alamia, who is also a lawyer, added.

The Court decision made public Monday declared unconstitutional the interpretation of the provision in the law directing the provinces and cities of ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) to vote as one geographical unit as including provinces that did not vote to be included.

"This violates Article X, Section 18 of the Constitution, which states that only provinces, cities, and geographic areas voting favorably in the plebiscite shall be included in the autonomous region," the Court explained.

The ruling stemmed from a petition filed by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan in 2018, asking the SC to declare the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) or Republic Act 11054 as unconstitutional.

Tan argued that BOL violates Section 18 and 19 of Article 10 of the 1987 Constitution, which authorized the enactment of only one Organic Act to establish the ARMM.

“Only through an amendment of the Constitution may ARMM be abolished,” the petition stated.

Alamia called for a thorough review of the administrative implications, particularly in relation to existing BARMM agencies, programs, and legislation such as the Bangsamoro Administrative Code and Civil Service Code.

Concerns on regional unity

Naguib Sinarimbo, former BARMM interior minister and a lawyer, expressed concern about the broader impact of the decision.

He warned that it introduces an "opt-out" provision that was not explicitly provided for in the BOL but is now implied by the SC ruling.

“As a result, other provinces and cities may now entertain and pursue the idea of opting out from the autonomous region. This threatens the death of the Bangsamoro idea -- a concept uniting the 13 ethnolinguistic groups of Muslims who have resisted all forms of colonialism over the centuries,” Sinarimbo said in a separate statement.

Disappointment

Meanwhile, Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman expressed mixed feelings about the ruling.

He welcomed the SC’s affirmation of the BOL but lamented Sulu’s exclusion from BARMM.

“The Bangsamoro will not be complete without Sulu. This is a significant blow to our efforts to promote unity and inclusivity across the provinces of the region,” Hataman said in a statement.

The SC’s decision is expected to have far-reaching effects, not only for the administrative structure of BARMM, but also for the region's long-standing efforts to maintain unity and stability as it navigates the challenges of self-governance and self-determination.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233016