From the MILF Website (Jan 7): Bangsamoro Transition Commission Continues its Sessions with Experts
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With just a day into the new Gregorian year of 2014, the Committee on Political Autonomy of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) held its first session with experts on January 3 to 4 at the campus of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City.
With just a day into the new Gregorian year of 2014, the Committee on Political Autonomy of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) held its first session with experts on January 3 to 4 at the campus of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City.
Commissioner Robert M. Alonto, who chairs the said committee, said that about “70% of the Bangsamoro Basic Law are within the scope of the Political Autonomy Committee” and considers it a “daunting task” but nonetheless expressed his determination because he believed that what they will ink is a “historic document and the future of the Bangsamoro people.”
The committee was welcomed by RLA Assemblyman Ziaur Rahman Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st Dist.) and Dr. Alma E. Berowa, MSU Vice-President for Academic Affairs. In his welcome address, Adiong admitted that the “autonomous regional government cannot fully enhance itself because of some limitations that are embedded in Republic Act 9054”. He further expressed his support to the ongoing peace process between the GPH and MILF and that the 8th Regional Assembly “shares the optimism of the people and (we) want to see the final completion of the annexes.” On the other hand, Berowa assured the BTC that MSU will always be a partner in facilitating for peace and development in the region since “peace will always be an aspiration of the university.”
LECTURES, Q & A
The 2-day session of the BTC was marked by academic presentations and question and answer portions.
On the first day, two retired professors -- Dr. Guimba Poingan of MSU and Prof. Rudy Rodil – gave talks on “Bangsamoro History and Identity” and “Territorial Ancestral Domain,” respectively.
Dr. Poingan provided a detailed discussion on the origin of the Bangsamoro people, from the civilizations before the advent of Islam and the Sultanates, to the contemporary movements in the 1970’s.
Meanwhile, Prof. Rudy Rodil conveyed his warm approval of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and stressed that PNoy was the first president to ever accept and affirm Bangsamoro as a territory or entity. For Prof. Rodil, acceptance is about ‘celebrating the history and character’ of the region.
Rodil served as Vice-Chair of the GPH Peace Negotiating Panel for Talks with the MILF from 2004 to 2008. Among his works are different published research, books and articles on Mindanao, indigenous peoples and ancestral domain.
Islamic Principles, Political Spaces and their Legalities
The session on the second day was started by Dr. Hamid A. Barra, another former member of the GPH Peace Panel. His presentation focused on the ‘Rationale of the Bangsamoro Basic Law’ and according to him the reason for having a basic law is for the Bangsamoro people to participate in governance. He also stressed that in the BBL the Bangsamoro people will have a chance to get the “real share of what’s being generated by their own natural resources.” Dr. Barra pointed out to the committee that Islam as a complete way of life is for peace and that they must find a way to infuse Islamic democratic principles in the BBL like the public consultation which is actually an Islamic principle called ‘shura’ .
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worth noting that under EO 120, one of BTC’s tasks is to ‘conduct dialogues and consultations with National Government and various stakeholders’.
The following presentation was on the “Concept of Political Autonomy” which was delivered by Dr. Sukarno D. Tangol, a former Ambassador to Kuwait and currently the Chancellor of MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (IIT).
Dr. Tangol expressed his belief that contrary to what others fear that a successful Bangsamoro would one day call for independence, the opposite might just happen. He believed that granting self-governance to a region would make the region feel more that they are part of the larger state. Moving forward, he challenged the committee that the BBL should stipulate that the Bangsamoro government must somehow have control over the local government units (LGUs) unlike the present ARMM. There was a need, according to him, to theoretically, historically, and politically contextualize the word autonomy. In his words, Dr. Tangol called on the members of the committee to “not be satisfied with the creation of mere offices” and to look forward to what can be “substantively called self-determination” which he later referred to as “some political space where they can cook their own food”.
The last presenter was Atty. Rommel M. Alonto who talked on “Entrenching the Bangsamoro Basic Law into the Philippine Constitution”. Currently an Assistant City Prosecutor in Cagayan de Oro, Atty. Alonto discussed provisions of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), the different annexes and their relationship and implications to the Constitution. He also discussed mechanisms for amendments should there be needs for it.
At the end of the day, the Committee on Political Autonomy was thankful to the experts, observers and participants who raised questions and share their opinions. For his closing remarks, Commissioner Said Sheik conveyed that the work is not yet done and that the “channel of communication should continue”. The committee is expected to convene again on January 23 to 24 in Cagayan de Oro City for another session, that time with foreign experts.
The six standing committees of the BTC regularly hold sessions with experts and leaders inorder to gain deeper technical knowledge on varied issues and concerns.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/756-bangsamoro-transition-commission-continues-its-sessions-with-experts
The committee was welcomed by RLA Assemblyman Ziaur Rahman Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st Dist.) and Dr. Alma E. Berowa, MSU Vice-President for Academic Affairs. In his welcome address, Adiong admitted that the “autonomous regional government cannot fully enhance itself because of some limitations that are embedded in Republic Act 9054”. He further expressed his support to the ongoing peace process between the GPH and MILF and that the 8th Regional Assembly “shares the optimism of the people and (we) want to see the final completion of the annexes.” On the other hand, Berowa assured the BTC that MSU will always be a partner in facilitating for peace and development in the region since “peace will always be an aspiration of the university.”
LECTURES, Q & A
The 2-day session of the BTC was marked by academic presentations and question and answer portions.
On the first day, two retired professors -- Dr. Guimba Poingan of MSU and Prof. Rudy Rodil – gave talks on “Bangsamoro History and Identity” and “Territorial Ancestral Domain,” respectively.
Dr. Poingan provided a detailed discussion on the origin of the Bangsamoro people, from the civilizations before the advent of Islam and the Sultanates, to the contemporary movements in the 1970’s.
Meanwhile, Prof. Rudy Rodil conveyed his warm approval of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and stressed that PNoy was the first president to ever accept and affirm Bangsamoro as a territory or entity. For Prof. Rodil, acceptance is about ‘celebrating the history and character’ of the region.
Rodil served as Vice-Chair of the GPH Peace Negotiating Panel for Talks with the MILF from 2004 to 2008. Among his works are different published research, books and articles on Mindanao, indigenous peoples and ancestral domain.
Islamic Principles, Political Spaces and their Legalities
The session on the second day was started by Dr. Hamid A. Barra, another former member of the GPH Peace Panel. His presentation focused on the ‘Rationale of the Bangsamoro Basic Law’ and according to him the reason for having a basic law is for the Bangsamoro people to participate in governance. He also stressed that in the BBL the Bangsamoro people will have a chance to get the “real share of what’s being generated by their own natural resources.” Dr. Barra pointed out to the committee that Islam as a complete way of life is for peace and that they must find a way to infuse Islamic democratic principles in the BBL like the public consultation which is actually an Islamic principle called ‘shura’ .
worth noting that under EO 120, one of BTC’s tasks is to ‘conduct dialogues and consultations with National Government and various stakeholders’.
The following presentation was on the “Concept of Political Autonomy” which was delivered by Dr. Sukarno D. Tangol, a former Ambassador to Kuwait and currently the Chancellor of MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (IIT).
Dr. Tangol expressed his belief that contrary to what others fear that a successful Bangsamoro would one day call for independence, the opposite might just happen. He believed that granting self-governance to a region would make the region feel more that they are part of the larger state. Moving forward, he challenged the committee that the BBL should stipulate that the Bangsamoro government must somehow have control over the local government units (LGUs) unlike the present ARMM. There was a need, according to him, to theoretically, historically, and politically contextualize the word autonomy. In his words, Dr. Tangol called on the members of the committee to “not be satisfied with the creation of mere offices” and to look forward to what can be “substantively called self-determination” which he later referred to as “some political space where they can cook their own food”.
The last presenter was Atty. Rommel M. Alonto who talked on “Entrenching the Bangsamoro Basic Law into the Philippine Constitution”. Currently an Assistant City Prosecutor in Cagayan de Oro, Atty. Alonto discussed provisions of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), the different annexes and their relationship and implications to the Constitution. He also discussed mechanisms for amendments should there be needs for it.
At the end of the day, the Committee on Political Autonomy was thankful to the experts, observers and participants who raised questions and share their opinions. For his closing remarks, Commissioner Said Sheik conveyed that the work is not yet done and that the “channel of communication should continue”. The committee is expected to convene again on January 23 to 24 in Cagayan de Oro City for another session, that time with foreign experts.
The six standing committees of the BTC regularly hold sessions with experts and leaders inorder to gain deeper technical knowledge on varied issues and concerns.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/756-bangsamoro-transition-commission-continues-its-sessions-with-experts