ARMM governor calls for extra careful in handling the proposed BBL

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=795957
• Saturday, August 22, 2015

(PNA), RMA/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 22 (PNA) – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman has appealed to the legislators to be extra careful in the handling of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Hataman’s appeal came after it was reported that the senate version has replaced 80 percent while the House of Representatives made around 30 revisions of the original provisions of the proposed BBL.

“We are concerned over raised apprehensions that the substitute version no longer stands for the aspirations of the Moro people for a genuine independence and self-rule,” Hataman said in an emailed statement.

“We take note of how precarious the current situation and a diluted BBL will only worsen the lives of Moro people in Mindanao,” he added.

He said it is the call of the Mindanaoans to the lawmakers in Senate and House of Representatives to pass a BBL that will result in the creation of a political entity that is way better than the ARMM.

He said that anything lesser than the ARMM will not solve the problem of Mindanao and the Moro people.

He said the imperfections of Republic Act 9054, an act to strengthen and expand the organic act for the ARMM, restricted the regional government’s implementation of its development goals and reform agenda.

He said what the Moro people want is a law that truly addresses the historical injustices committed against the Moro people, “something that will give genuine autonomy to a people whose longing has always been to self-govern.”

“We appeal for them to reflect on the lives of the Moro people in Mindanao who will directly suffer from the gaps in the delivery of services once a weak and diluted law is passed,” Hataman added.