Even after the schedule for the courtesy call was approved, the Bangsamoro Transition Committee (BTC) still found itself in an unwelcome situation when Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar decided on the last-hour to meet the BTC in a public gathering instead of her office.
It was very noticeable that she and the rest of city officials were lukewarm to the commissioners right from their arrival in the venue at a hotel in downtown Zamboanga.
But amidst the jeering and the harsh questioning, members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) made through with the February 12 public forum organized by the City Government of Zamboanga.
The commissioners, led by their Chairman Mohagher Iqbal, calmly and rationally answered questions from several sectors of Zamboanguenos.
In what seems to be an orchestrated outpouring of emotions and even a walk-out, the forum revealed the opposition of this city’s officials to the peace process between the GPH and MILF.
No less than the city mayor herself ordered the local government-assembled crowd to physically stand up and shout ”no” to the city’s inclusion to the Bangsamoro.
Contrary to earlier reports that a BTC commissioner “triggered” the uproar, a review of the sequence of speakers shows a wide time gap between the “wish” statement of Commissioner Akmad Sakkam and the uncalled for reaction of the city executive.
Sakkam merely stated his wish for the people of this city to join the Bangsamoro because of the expected socio-economic advantages Zamboanga stands to gain if it is included in the new political entity.
This, even as the commissioners belabored the point that democratic processes are to be observed in the formation of the territories of the Bangsamoro.
Almost all the questions raised concerned only contiguity of territories and the plebiscite.
Commissioner Raissa Jajurie explained that the petition of at least ten percent of an area does not automatically include it in the Bangsamoro territory unless it is approved by a majority of qualified voters in a plebiscite.
Iqbal earlier mentioned in his opening remarks that they did not make a presentation for the Zamboanga audience because the city is “not directly part of the equation.”
The BTC visit was also primarily made just to give due respect to the city’s leadership. Since the commissioners stayed here for their 3-day consultations in the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, they considered it a matter of civility to pay courtesy call to the city mayor.
But amidst the jeering and the harsh questioning, members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) made through with the February 12 public forum organized by the City Government of Zamboanga.
The commissioners, led by their Chairman Mohagher Iqbal, calmly and rationally answered questions from several sectors of Zamboanguenos.
In what seems to be an orchestrated outpouring of emotions and even a walk-out, the forum revealed the opposition of this city’s officials to the peace process between the GPH and MILF.
No less than the city mayor herself ordered the local government-assembled crowd to physically stand up and shout ”no” to the city’s inclusion to the Bangsamoro.
Contrary to earlier reports that a BTC commissioner “triggered” the uproar, a review of the sequence of speakers shows a wide time gap between the “wish” statement of Commissioner Akmad Sakkam and the uncalled for reaction of the city executive.
Sakkam merely stated his wish for the people of this city to join the Bangsamoro because of the expected socio-economic advantages Zamboanga stands to gain if it is included in the new political entity.
This, even as the commissioners belabored the point that democratic processes are to be observed in the formation of the territories of the Bangsamoro.
Almost all the questions raised concerned only contiguity of territories and the plebiscite.
Commissioner Raissa Jajurie explained that the petition of at least ten percent of an area does not automatically include it in the Bangsamoro territory unless it is approved by a majority of qualified voters in a plebiscite.
Iqbal earlier mentioned in his opening remarks that they did not make a presentation for the Zamboanga audience because the city is “not directly part of the equation.”
The BTC visit was also primarily made just to give due respect to the city’s leadership. Since the commissioners stayed here for their 3-day consultations in the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, they considered it a matter of civility to pay courtesy call to the city mayor.
Even then the crowd could not be appeased, as if what they only want is for the commission to categorically state that Zamboanga City would never be part of the Bangsamoro.
Iqbal, noted for his composure, urged the crowd “not to give up on peace.” He asked the pessimists to consider peace as the only option left for all. “If previous agreements did not succeed, it only means that the real solution to the problem has not yet been found,” he said.
As of the 2010 census, Zamboanga City has a population of 807,129. It is estimated that Muslims, particularly of the Tausug tribe, make up 25% of the city’s residents.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/816-btc-courtesy-call-‘unwelcome’-in-zamboanga-city
