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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Mindanao solon upbeat on BOL vote

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The Supreme Court’s failure to stop the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law will now pave the way for a smooth and orderly plebiscite, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday. 

“I believe it will usher in the peace and prosperity that we sorely need in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” Zubiri said.

“I, together with my colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives [who] voted almost unanimously for its approval, believe in the BOL’s constitutionality.”

Zubiri, who led public hearings on the BOL,  said he trusted the Office of the Solicitor General to defend the measure on the cases pending with the high court and “that we legislators are willing to lend a helping hand to strengthen our case for the BOL. 

“I am appealing to the Honorable Magistrates of the Highest Court of the land to hopefully be liberal in their discussions on the BOL and to consider the measure as an instrument of Peace for our Muslim brothers and sisters,” Zubiri said.

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“We appeal as well to all parties, including those who opposed the measure, to give this Organic Law a chance to uplift the lives of our Muslim Brothers and Sisters.” 

With the passage of the BOL, Zubiri, the author of the new law, said they were elated by the statements of the largest rebel group, the MILF, that the war was finally over.

He also said they could now proceed with the transformation of the combatants to social and political workers and the quick turnover of their firearms to the government for decommissioning. 

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he was confident the high court would uphold the constitutionality of the BOL.

“I personally devoted time and attention to the crafting of the law to make sure that the BOL should be compliant with the Constitution to achieve stability in the ARMM,” Drilon said.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said he believed the BOL was constitutional. 

“Our Constitution is a living document. It is not a straitjacket which should restrict us from adjusting to changing times and circumstances,” Pimentel said. 

“The 1987 Constitution says there should be an autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao. I believe that is what we have done.”

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