Mga Lider ng mga Organisasyong napaloob sa AKMK-Lanao del Norte matapos ang talakayan hinggil sa BOL, Karapatan sa Sariling Pagpapasya, ang Kabataan at ang Plebisito. Kasama sa larawan ay ang kinatawan ng Mindanao Peoples' Peace Movement na si Johnny Balindong na nagbahagi tungkol sa BOL at Plebisito.
Ang Lanao del Norte Cluster ng Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK) ay naniniwala na ang kapayapaan ay nakaugat sa pagkilala sa karapatan ng bawat katauhan (Lumad, Bangsamoro, at Migrante) kasama na dito ang Karapatan sa Sariling Pagpapasya, pag-iral ng katarungan, pagsakatuparan sa karapatang pantao at pag-unlad na hindi mapangwasak sa kalikasan. Ang AKMK bilang alyansa ng mga organisasyong kabataan at indibidwal sa Mindanao na nailuwal sa panahon ng all-out-war sa Mindanao noong 2001 ay mahigpit na yumayakap sa kahulugang ito ng KAPAYAPAAN.
Sa Mindanao ay nasa panibagong yugto ng kasaysayan ang pakikibaka sa Karapatan sa Sariling Pagpapsya ng Bangsamoro. Matapos magkaroon ng Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro ang Gobyerno ng Pilipinas at Moro Islamic Liberation Front bilang pinal na kasunduan noong taong 2014 ay andito na tayo sa panahon ng pagbubuo ng bagong Autonomous political entity.
Ito ay mahalaga sa buhay ng mga kabataan. Bilang isa sa mga sektor na naiipit sa digmaan, paglikas, pagka-ulila at pagkamuhi ay mahalagang bahagi ito ng aming kasaysayan at buhay. Sa magkabilang panig, ang nasa unang hanay ng digmaan ay naroon ang mga kabataang mandirigma na parehong naniniwala sa kanilang ipinaglalaban kahit na buhay pa ang katumbas. Kaya, lalong mahalaga para sa kabataan ang isang mapayapang pagresolba sa sigalot na kasama ang lahat na sector ng lipunan at mga mamamayan.
Sa pamamagitan ng plebisito ay niratipika ng mayoriyang 1.7 milyong botante ng mga probinsya at syudad ng dating ARMM at Cotabato City ang Bangsamoro Organic Law na pumalit sa dating Republic Act 9054 o ang batas na gabay-balangkas sa nasabing pampolitikang mekanismo ng Karapatan sa Sariling Pagpapasya ng Bangsamoro. Sa darating na Pebrero 6 ay idadaos ang ikalawang Plebisito para sa iba pang lugar na nais pumaloob sa Bangsamoro.
Kasama dito ang probinsya ng Lanao del Norte kung saan magpapasya kung sang-ayon o hindi na pumaloob sa BARMM ang anim na munisipyong bahagi nito at ang mga munisipyo ng North Cotabato kung papayag din ba ang mga residente nito na ilan sa mga barangay nito ay mapaloob na sa bagong rehiyon. Kasama ang mga kabataan sa Lanao del Norte na magpapasya dito at titiyakin naming magiging aktibo kami sa pakikiisa at sa paghubog nito.
Ipinapanawagan natin ang MALAYANG PLEBISITO sa darating na Pebrero 6. MALAYA mula sa paninindak, pananakot at pagdikta sa desisyon ng mga residente. MALAYA mula sa pang-iimpluwensya ng mga politiko at rebeldeng grupo sa halip ay KILALANIN ang PUNDAMENTAL NA KARAPATAN NG MGA MAMAMAYANG MAGPASYA.
Kasama sa pangarap at partisipasyong ito ay ang mga panawagang:
- PAGPUKSA sa Dinastiya at Kurapsyon
- Makabuluhan at Substansyal na Representasyon sa mga Kabataan
- Substansyal na Pagsakatuparan sa Karapatan at Kagalingan ng mga Kabataan
- Pantay na Pagkilala sa mga Karapatan ng mga mamamayan (Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples, Bangsamoro, Migrant Settler’s Descendants)
- Ekonomiya at Kaulanrang Hindi Mapangwasak sa Kalikasan at Buhay at Hindi Yuyurak sa mga Karapatan ng mga Mamamayan
- Pag-iral ng Pamamahalang taliwas sa kasalukuyang maka-iilan at malayo sa mamamayan.
Panghuli, ipinapanawagan namin sa lahat na mga KABATAAN sa Lanao del Norte at mga Bayan ng North Cotabato na kalahok sa Plebisito ngayong Prebreo 6 ay lumabas at lumahok nang MALAYA para sa isang MALAYANG KINABUKASAN.
Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan-LANAO Cluster / YAPAK Artists Collective – Lanao del Norte / Kabataang Magsasaka ng Lanao del Norte / Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan – Lanao del Norte / Pigkarangan Youth Service Organization / Kabataang Kababaehan para sa Kapayapaan – Lanao
MindanaOne is one with all peace loving and human rights champions in Mindanao, Philippines and the world in the call of the Bangsamoro for a more meaningful Right to Self Determination.
On the same note that MindanaOne calls to make this RSD be felt at the community and lives of the Moro masses economically and politically.
As well as for the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples' rights and entitlements be fulfilled equally and without discrimination including the rights of the Migrant Settler's populations.
Let us all have a democratic and open discourse towards the plebiscites and the establishment of the new political entity - Bangsamoro.
Let us all call for a free and democratic plebiscites (January 21 and February 6). Let the people cast their voices.
If the past ones are failure, let us make this one an alternative for, by, of the peoples.
Ang pagkaroon ng Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) at mga nauna pang mga batas ukol sa Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) ay mga katas ng tagumpay ng pakikibaka ng mamamayang Bangsamoro kasama ang pakikiisa ng Non-Moro IPs, Migranteng populasyon at lahat na hanay ng lipunan sa Mindanao at bansa para sa lubos na pagtamasa ng kanilang karapatan sa sariling pagpapasya lalong lao na ang karaniwang Masang Bangsamoro. Maliwanag na ang Karapatan sa Sariling Pagpapasya ay isang lehitimong Karapatan bilang mamamayan upang hubugin ang pampolitika, pang-ekonomiya at kultural na kinabukasan nito na higit sa lahat ay magbibigay ng pagbabago sa bawat buhay ng karaniwang mamamayan na napaloob. Kami ay kaisa ng mga Bangsamoro sa pagbubunyi ng tagumpay na ito!
Batay sa karanasan sa ARMM, sa halip na maging pagbabago ito sa buhay ng karaniwang Moro at iba pang mamamayan na napaloob dito ay mga tradisyonal na mga politikong angkan at naging instrumento pa ito sa maka-iilang politika at ekonomiya. Madaling sabihin ang mga numero ng pag-angat sa ekonomiya ng rehiyon ngunit ramdam ba ng karaniwang mamamayan ito? Mas lumalantad ang pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan at maging sa kalikasan sa rehiyong sana ay magbibigay ng makabuluhang buhay sa kanyang mga pamayanan.
Sa kabila nang magkasalungat na mga pananaw at posisyon ukol sa BOL, kami sa Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM) Maguindanao & Cotabato Cluster ay kaisa para sa BOL kasabay ang pagsulong sa mga sumusunod:
Makatarungang Kapayapaan sa Pamamagitan ng Pantay na Pagkilala at Pagsakatuparan sa Karapatan ng Lahat ng Mamamayan – Pagseguro na ang kapayapaang ipinangako ng BOL ay nakaugat sa katarungan at hindi lang simpleng sa kawalan ng armadong bakbakan! Pagseguro na hindi maaapakan ang karapatan ng minoryang populasyon na nakatira sa rehiyon!
Katiyakan ng Karapatan at Kagalingan ng Non-Moro IPs - Dahil sa karanasan sa RA 9054, walang pagpatupad sa Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) at isang malaking hamon sa ganap na pagsakatuparan sa mga karapatang ayon sa IPRA 1997. At dahil sa BOL ay maliwanag na naisaad ang mga probisyon para sa Non-Moro IPs ay ating tiyaking ang mga nakasaad na mga probisyong magtatanggol at magsakatuparan sa mga karapatan ng NonMoro IPs sa lahat ng aspeto ng ekonomiya at politika ay maging makatotohanan lalo na sa usaping Lupaing Ninuno, Tradisyonal na Pamamahala at Hustisya, Representasyon at mga Serbisyong Sosyal.
Maunlad na Ekonomiya, Kaunlaran, Pangangasiwa ng Yaman na Hindi Nakakasira sa Kalikasan at Masaganang Pamumuhay para sa LAHAT – Tiyakin na kabilang ang lahat ng uri ng mamamayan sa Bangsamoro sa pagtamasa ng isang maunlad na rehiyon. Ang masaganang pamumuhay ay dapat na batid at tinatamasa ng mga ordinaryong mamamayang Moro, Lumad at Migrante katulad ng mga magsasaka, tindera sa palengke, mangingisda, manggagawa sa gobyerno, manggagawang napilitang mangibang bansa at iba pang sektor ng mga manggagawa at hindi lamang nakasentro sa mga iilang tao tulad ng mga politiko at negosyante. At kaularang magtitiyak na hindi masisira ang kalikasan at walang pagyurak sa mga karapatan nang ang mga susunod pa na salinlahi ay makakaranas at matatamasa pa nito. Dahil hindi kailanman sustenable ang kaunlaran kung ang pagwasak sa kalikasan ang nakataya lalo na’t may iba pang henerasyon na darating na kailangan pang mabuhay sa mga yamang ito.
Maayos at Mabuting Pamamahala – Pagseguro sa isang malinaw (transparent), may pananagutan (accountability), demokratiko, may pagkonsulta at naghihimok ng paglahok (participatory) na uri ng pamamahala. Pagseguro na maging daan ang BOL sa pagkakaroon ng mekanismo na wakasan ang matagal nang problema sa rehiyon tungkol sa malayang pagpili sa panahon ng halalan at maging ang paghimok ng mga bagong political leaders at hindi upang mas palakasin pa ang mga political dynasties sa rehiyon!
Tunay at Sapat na Representasyon ng Karaniwang Mamamayan, Sektor at Non-Moro IP sa Parliamento – Pagseguro na may demokratikong mekanismo sa pagpili sa representasyon ng Non-Moro IP at mga sektor sa parliamento! Ibigay sa Non-Moro IP ang isang kinatawan ng kababaihan sa parliamento at hayaang magkaroon ng sariling proseso ang mga Non-Moro IP sa pagpili ng kanilang sariling kinatawan para sa parliamento! Ito’y bilang pagkilala sa presensya at karapatan nila na matagal na ring nakikibaka sa kanilang sariling pagpapasya sa loob ng rehiyon. Seguraduhin rin na ang inilaang reserve seats para sa mamamayang Non-Moro IP at mga sektor ng kababaihan, kabataan at PWD sa parliamento ay hindi pakialaman ng mga politikong sakim sa kapangyarihan at may sariling interes.
Bilang isang kilusan na nagsusulong ng kapayapaan, kami rin ay nananawagan sa lahat ng mga partidong may interes sa BOL, na bigyan ng kalayaang bumoto at magdesisyon ng kanilang sarili ang mga mamamayang kabilang sa plebisito sa darating na January 21, 2019 at Pebrero 6, 2019.
Kinukondena din namin ang lahat ng mga kagulohang nangyayari ngayon na may kaugnayan sa BOL at maging ang mga pwersa sa lipunang nais bulabugin at hadlangan ang prosesong tinatahak ngayon ng Bangsamoro Organic Law!
Patuloy kaming mananawagan sa lahat ng mga mamamayan nang pagkamahinahon subalit maging alerto at mapagmatyag sa mga pangyayari! Huwag basta-bastang maniniwala at pumasa ng mga balita at impormasyon na hindi sinusuri at walang katibayan! Mas tibayan pa ang ating pagkakaisa bilang mga mamamayang Lumad, Moro at Migrante na ngayon ay mas higit na kailangan.
Sa huli, aming pakikiisa at pagsaludo sa lahat ng mga mamamayang Bangsamoro na nakikibaka at nagtaya ng kanilang buhay para sa pag-abot ng mithiing ito! Nawa’y gabayan ang ating mga pinuno sa kanilang mga natutunan at naramdamang kabiguan sa kasaysayan ng ARMM!"
Fatima Lintang-Ali
Chairperson
Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM) Maguindanao & Cotabato City Cluster
As the year 2018 ends, Mindanao is again shaken by the recent IED explosion that killed two and injured more than 30 individuals in the busy Southseas mall in Cotabato City on 31st of December 2018. Together, let us condemn in the strongest term this cowardly act of those who want to sow terror and divide the tri-people og Mindanao.
Let us join the whole public in the clamor for justice and for the arrest of those responsible with utmost observance to democratic processes. Let us not allow that our political, religious and cultural differences divide us in this moment as we are all victims of the situation.
The incident do not only aim to sow terror but is aimed to divide us all again and instill fear. They will only succeed if we let hatred prevail upon us.
Let us all stand in solidarity with the victims and demand for a thorough and impartial investigation.
We are entering into another page of Mindanao and Philippine history. The passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law as an instrument for the expression of the Right to Self Determination of the Bangsamoro that will be ratified through a plebiscites this coming January 21 and February 6, 2019 and replace the Republic Act 9054 or the current Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao. May the Cotabato City incident not be instrumentalized to jeopardize the upcoming plebiscites and the democratic discourses towards it. Let us all have an open, fair and democratic debate to help in making decisions more informed.
Mindanao Peoples' Peace Movement strongly believes and supports Right to Self-Determination aspirations of peoples, and hopes that these aspirations do not further marginalize other peoples and vulnerable groups. This RSD must centrally and substatially put the interests of the communities and its people at the top.
Let us continue to journey 2019 and beyond building communities of justpeace. Let us continue to work for the grassroots, the marginalized and the oppressed peoples, class and sectors.
The indigenous peoples in Mindanao have constantly been struggling for their right to self-determination. This continuing struggle has been an integral part of the advocacy for peace and development within the region. It has then been part of their work to push for their rights within the negotiation for peace between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The leaders of Teduray, Lambangian, Arumanen Manobo, along with other leaders from affected communities, have been actively engaging the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) since 2010 to bring their serious concerns of exclusion, misrepresentation, and different forms of discrimination and violence in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), so that the peace process with the MILF will be able to address these historical injustices experienced by the indigenous peoples.
The engagements of the IP leaders are from the local up to the national level – bilateral, tripartite and multilateral dialogues, congressional and public hearings, study sessions, and forums. The IP advocacy work is led by the Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG), along with other indigenous political structures within the ARMM and contiguous areas. When the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) was created, this, too was a platform they vigilantly used to articulate their concerns, and later on, to push for actual concrete proposals to be integrated in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
While there was very little support, if any, from OPAPP, the IP leaders have garnered support for their call for the full inclusion of indigenous peoples’ rights in the BBL outside the formal negotiation spaces. In 2014, when then President Benigno Aquino III handed the draft BBL of the BTC to Congress, the IP leaders were vigilantly attending committee hearings in both houses as resource persons, articulating their positions, and pushing for a BBL that is cognizant of the rights of the indigenous peoples. The IP leaders and their advocacy received support in the Congress, and among peace advocates.
Unfortunately, in 2015, the Mamasapano Massacre happened, which led to the mistrust of the members of the Congress on MILF and the peace talks. Thereafter, the 16th Congress failed to pass the BBL.
In 2016, upon the assumption of office of Rodrigo Duterte as president, he stated that the passage of the BBL is his priority, along with his push for federalism. In November 2016, Pres. Duterte issued Executive Order No. 8, expanding the membership of the BTC from 15 to 21. This expansion is purportedly to be more inclusive. However, the number of IP representatives remained the same – 1 from MILF, and another from the government side. This meant that the IP agenda remained marginalized in the negotiation, and finally in the output of the BTC. The BTC version is still sorely missing the full recognition of the non-Moro Indigenous Peoples rights to self-determination, their ancestral domain, and their distinct identity.
In July 17, 2017, this was submitted to President Duterte. After this, Duterte met with the MILF to discuss the BBL and the federalism agenda. There was no formal endorsement from the Office of the President of the BTC version of the BBL to Congress.
In August of 2017, the OPAPP, now chaired by Secretary Dureza, convened the Mindanao IP Legislative Assembly (MIPLA), with representatives from major indigenous populations, facilitated by the GRP Indigenous Peoples Peace Panel. The TJG leaders took a very critical role in MIPLA, and for 3 months, the assembly was able to draft a collection of proposed revisions of specific chapters, ensuring that their rights, identity and ancestral domains as non-Moro Indigenous Peoples are recognized, and integrated throughout the draft BBL.
This output of the MIPLA was officially endorsed by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to Congress. On the other hand, the OPAPP, after funding and convening the MIPLA, considered its task done, and left the IPs to lobby the Congress by themselves. Meanwhile, Rep. Nancy Catamco, and Rep. Wilter Wee Palma II, as the Chair and Member for the Majority respectively, of the Committee of Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples, committed to use the MIPLA outputs in the delibrations of the house bills on BBL to push for the full inclusion of IP rights.
There were 4 different versions of the bill filed in the lower house – the BTC version was filed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (HB 6475), and three other bills filed by Deputy Speaker and Maguindanao Rep. Bai Sandra Sinsuat Sema, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Lanao del Norte Rep. Muhamad Khalid Dimaporo. These bills seek to repeal Republic Act 9054, entitled “An Act to Strengthen and Expand the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” and RA 6374 entitled “An Act Providing for an Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao”. None of these bills articulate the full inclusion of IP rights within the BBL.
In January 2018, the joint sub-committee to which the BBL was assigned, chaired by Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Wilter Wee Palma II, resumed its hearings, and was set to come up with a new working draft bill based on the HB 6475, 92, 6121 and 6263. The IP leaders were hopeful that with the champions in the Congress, the MIPLA provisions would be integrated in the new draft bill.
In May 15, 2018, the House joint committees on Local Government, committee on Muslim affairs and the committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity approved the committee report on HB 6475, the BTC version, without any amendments.
There was a total of 22 consultations done by Congress, all of which produced recommended revisions of the draft bill. Furthermore, there were the recommended MIPLA provisions. None was taken in.
There were questions on the process. These were registered during the committee hearing after the vote. House Assistant Majority Leader Juan Pablo Bondoc then said that any objections or proposed amendments may be brought to the plenary.
No one raised any objection regarding the absence of the recognition of IP rights in the approved BBL bill.
At the Senate, the sub-committee on BBL under the committee on local governments, chaired by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, conducted 11 public hearings and six whole days of technical working group meetings. After these, the sub-committee passed SB 1717, which, according to Zubiri, is “not 100 % BTC version, but it’s 96% BTC.”
According to Zubiri, legislators are aiming to pass the BBL into law before Sine Die (adjournment) “to meet the President’s desire.”
IP RIGHTS MATTER
The deliberations of BBL have been intense since the 16th Congress. The IP leaders from Teduray, Lambangian, Arumanen Manobo and from other contiguous areas of ARMM have been in and out of the halls of Congress to speak their truth – how they are part of the struggle for peace in Mindanao, and how they support the passage of BBL. But they also speak of the reality that a BBL without the full inclusion of the rights of non-Moro Indigenous Peoples – no recognition of their ancestral domain, their distinct identity, and their right to self-determination – then it will further institutionalize the discrimination, and the marginalization of the women and men of Teduray, Lambangian and other indigenous communities within the proposed Bangsamoro.
Red Lines and Key Demands
IDENTITY (Article II, Section 2): The freedom of choice of all indigenous peoples’ within the Bangsamoro territory to retain their distinct indigenous and ethnic identity in addition to their Bangsamoro political identity shall be respected. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of identity, religion, and ethnicity.
FPIC in contiguous territory (Article III, Section 3): Contiguous provinces, cities, municipalities, barangay, and other geographical areas other than those mentioned in the preceding Section, that obtain a majority of qualified votes cast in the periodic plebiscites, as provided under Article XV, Section 4 of this Basic Law shall become part of the Bangsamoro; Provided, that the inclusion of the ancetral domains in the Bangsamoro, shall be subject to the free, prior, and informed consent of the affected community.
DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE MORO AND NON-MORO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’(Article IV, Section 9): The Bangsamoro government recognizes and promotes the rights of Moro and Non-Moro indigenous peoples’ within the framework of the Constitution and existing laws.
CONCURRENT POWERS (Article V, Section 2) The Central government and the Bangsamoro Government shall exercise shared powers within the Bangsamoro on the following matters:
(29) Ancestral Domain and Natural Resources
(30) Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ in the Bangsamoro
(31) Creation of the Independent Commisssion for Moro and Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples
IP RIGHTS (Article IX, Section 4): .. consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ (UNDRIP), the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), and existing laws on indigenous peoples.
FPIC FOR PROTECTED AREAS (Article XIII, Section 8): The Bangsamoro Parliament shall pass a law for the establishment of protected areas, creating procedure for the declaration and management of protected areas and the role of the Bangsamoro government. Provided that the protected areas to be declared within ancestral domains shall be subject to the free, prior, and informed consent of Moro and Non-Moro indigenous peoples.
RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OVER NATURAL RESOURCES (Article XIII, Section 12): The Bangsamoro Parliament shall enact a law recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples in the Bangsamoro in relation to natural resources within the terrotories covered by a native title, including their share in revenues, as provided in this Basic Law, and priority rights in the exploration, development, and utilization of such natural resources within their area. Exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources including but not limited to fossil fuels and uranium, mines and minerals, and renewable energy, within ancestral domains shall be subject to FPIC.
REPEALING CLAUSE (Article XVIII, Section 2): Provided that such laws, degrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances and parts thereof, shall not be inconsistent with the Constitution, and shall not fall below the minimum standards contained in national laws and relevant international instruments.
APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Today, the 17th Congress, we witness an express process to pass the BBL, as proposed by the BTC. Pres. Duterte earlier said that the MILF has “placed on us the burden of a timeline.” Thus, the voices of peoples, the diverse concerns of different sectors from the numerous consultations of Congress were set aside to immediately approve HB 6475 and SB 1717. The Indigenous Peoples, on the other hand, from the broad reach of communities of Mindanao, expressed their desire to be included, recognized, and respected in the proposed BBL. The MIPLA produced specific provisions which have bases in law, and aimed to address continuing injustices to the indigenous peoples. These were set aside. In the Senate, the plenary deliberations are being scheduled, and aimed to be finished by the end of the month. All this haste in the aid of satisfaction – that of the “president’s desire.”
But we don’t lose hope, as we cannot. A full inclusion of IP rights within the BBL will mean a life of dignity, peace and development for all of us – women and men of Moro and Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao.
We put our hopes in the hands of the women and men in Congress – both House and Senate- who wish to have them remembered by history as the courageous legislators and Filipinos, who fought for the rights of those who have less in law; and who have believed that peace lies not in the hands of the few, but in the hands and hearts of the masses.
May 16, 2018
LOYUKAN (Teduray term for comrade) is a formation of Indigenous Peoples Political Structures, NGOs and individual advocates pushing for the full inclusion of IP rights within the BBL
(5.21.18/Manila) – “To include non-Moro indigenous peoples rights in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) means inclusive peace, and a more lasting one,” says Timuay Santos Unsad, a Teduray leader from Upi, Maguindanao.
“Peace in Mindanao is a common aspiration of the Moro people and the non-Moro IPs. We have supported the struggle of our Muslim brothers and sisters for peace and development within our region. Their peace, is our peace. And that is why the BBL, to be truly a peace instrument, should also recognize the rights of the Teduray, Lambangian and other non-Moro indigenous peoples in Maguindanao,” adds Timuay Santos.
Timuay Santos Unsad is one of the 350 IP leaders who have been part of the Mindanao IP Legislative Assembly or MIPLA, which was convened by the Office of the Presidential Adviser to the Peace Process (OPAPP) last year. The MIPLA was mandated to draft specific proposed revisions to the BBL which would contain the IP agenda. The Assembly worked for 3 months, and came up with proposed revisions.
“We drafted proposed revisions to enhance the BBL, recognizing our rights to our ancestral domains, and our distinct identity as non-Moro IP rights. These were presented to the Congress,” according to Timuay Santos. “But now, all of these seem to be set aside in favor of the version from the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), which prescribes that all peoples within the proposed Bangsamoro territory are all Bangsamoro. But we are not. We are Teduray, with our own ancestral domain, justice system, and governance. We are non-Moro indigenous peoples.”
The Congress plans to pass the proposed BBL before it adjourns on June 1, upon the urging of President Rodrigo Duterte. At the House of Representatives, the House Committees on Local Government, Muslim Affairs, and Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity approved House Bill No. 6475 or the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) without amendments last week. This did not sit well among some members of the House, who said that all the consultations and public hearings were rendered useless, as no revisions were entertained. The HB 6475 is the version submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC). The same can be said with the Senate, when Senator Miguel Zubiri decided to author instead the BTC version. The interpellation of SB 1717, or the proposed BBL, is ongoing at the Senate.
“It’s true, that the BBL is long overdue. We have been part of the struggle, too. We have been attending congressional hearings, dialogues, public forums, to express our support to BBL, but also to say that an inclusive BBL is the only way to go to have an inclusive peace,” says Fintailan Leonora Mokudef. Fintailan is a title for a Teduray woman leader. “Indigenous Peoples in ARMM did not enjoy the rights provided by the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA). Recognition of our rights is also long overdue.”
The government of Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) did not recognize IPRA, a national law, as applicable within its territory. Its applicability over the Bangsamoro Territory is one of the critical revisions that the IP leaders are pushing for. The IP leaders went to the Senate today to have dialogues with the Senators and to observe the plenary discussions of SB 1717, or the Senate version of the proposed BBL.
“The halls of the Senate are familiar now to us. We have been here before, during the Aquino administration lobbying for the inclusion of IP agenda in the BBL. We have allies then who seem to have changed their position,” observes Timuay Leticio Datuwata, a Lambangian leader, from South Upi, Maguindanao. “We just hope that there will still be a number of members of the Senate who believes in the pursuit of peace, and that peace should be for everyone – even us, non-Moro Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao.”
Timuay Santos, Fintailan Leonora and Timuay Leticio are all part of LOYUKAN, a Teduray term to mean comrades. It is a coalition of IP leaders, Indigenous Political Structures, IP rights advocates, human rights organizations, and other members of the social movement who are all pushing for the full inclusion of the IP rights within the BBL.
A Solidarity Statement on the occasion of the International Women’s Day 2018
Women are central and pivotal in the production, reproduction and revolutionary processes since society existed.
MindanaOne would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the feminist and women movement in Mindanao, the Philippines and the world.
Historically, Women’s day started as a radical expression of women workers in the 1900s demanding voting rights, better pay and shorter working hours. In the Philippine and Mindanao contexts during the anti-colonial to anti-imperialist revolutions to anti-dictator Marcos, women are at the forefront
In the Philippines today, women workers are facing labor contractualization, sexual abuses, unjust and unfair working conditions aside from the new impositions of the tax reform introduced by the Duterte administration that impacted to the rise of prices in basic commodities and services. Instead of fulfilling its campaign promise to end labor contractualization scheme it preferred to consult the capitalists. Women in the economic processing zones are kicked out as they asserted to form unions to claim and protect their rights. Overseas women workers continued to suffer injustices and abuses from their employers abroad and even victims of illegal trafficking in the country while the government continued to encourage labor exportation. One can just imagine the social costs and difficulties experienced by these workers.
In Mindanao, it is becoming difficult for the women and girls in the rural communities affected by the wars and displacements. Corporate interests implemented by the very own government and agencies collaborating with the capitalist’s agri-businesses and extractive projects targeting ancestral lands of Indigenous Peoples and the Bangsamoro.
Abandoning government’s duty to promote social justice left out small farmers and food producing sectors from the priorities of the government and even more hit by the corporate dominated economic system. And this added more difficulties to women and mothers that mostly takes charge in household matters.
Ecological and humanitarian crises have worsened women’s situation. Their lives in the refugee camps and or evacuation centers are so bad and miserable while they are not given enough space for participation in rebuilding their lives and communities.
At home and even in the work places, abused to women’s rights persisted. And this is reinforced even by the misogynist pronouncements by the very President Duterte. It only showed how this current government see women as sexual subjects. Despite, it was the women to voice out first their opposition to mass killings and human rights violations under the Duterte administration.
From homes, communities to work places women are victims of abuses, exploitation and oppression.
As always, women and feminist movements are capable of fighting back. Across social and mass movements we are witnesses of important and leading roles that women and girls played from confronting the situation to offering concrete alternatives.
Women’s day is a celebration for the movement’s victories and continuous struggle for gender, social and climate justice. MindanaOne stands with the women across the world in their struggles.
We join all women and girls in the fight for equality, human rights and dignity; social, gender and climate justice; food sovereignty; rights and welfare as workers and food producers; and dignified society.
