Bangsamoro

Sen. Bam: Ensure enough funds for BOL transition

Sen. Bam Aquino called on fellow lawmakers to allot enough funds for the full implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to ensure the fulfilment of its mandate to bring peace and order in Mindanao.

“Dapat tiyakin na sapat at hindi kulang ang suporta para sa BOL,” said Sen. Bam, a co-author and co-sponsor of the BOL.

“Ang tagal na nitong pinangarap at inilaban ng mga kapatid nating Moro. Dapat hindi mabinbin ang transition dahil sa kakulangan ng budget,” added Sen. Bam, whose mother grew up in Mindanao, particularly Davao City.

Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law mandates that the current appropriation for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) shall be transferred to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

Sen. Bam said the ARMM’s 2019 approved budget of P31.1 billion won’t be enough as the transition to BOL needs around P59 billion. 

The Senate version of the 2019 budget has allotted around P30 billion additional budget for the BOL, which Sen. Bam hopes to hurdle the bicameral conference committee.

If there will be a re-enacted budget for 2019, the President can issue a supplemental budget, subject to the certification of the Treasurer of the Philippines that there’s enough fund for the purpose.

“Sayang naman kung hindi natin bibigyan ng tamang pondo ang BOL. Itodo na natin ang suporta upang maabot na ng mga kababayan natin sa Mindanao ang inaasam nilang kapayapaan at kaunlaran,” said Sen. Bam.

“Kinakailangan ang sapat na budget para makalikha ng iba’t ibang trabaho para sa mga kababayan natin doon,” the senator added.

Sen. Bam: Senate to prioritize BBL, peace in Mindanao over Cha-cha

Senator Bam Aquino is convinced that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will hurdle the Senate by March, saying this would help quell violence and terrorism in Mindanao and give the Bangsamoro people a chance to have a peaceful and abundant life.

 “Uunahin na natin ang pagpasa sa BBL. We need this law in order to address urgent and pressing issues in the Bangsamoro region. A number of senators have agreed to pass this by March, even ahead of any Cha-cha,” Sen. Bam said, adding that the Senate could pass the BBL ahead of the House.

“Nagkakasundo rin ang mga lider sa Mindanao na ang pagsasabatas ng BBL ay isang solusyon para maibsan ang karahasan at pag-aaway sa Bangsamoro areas,” added Sen. Bam, one of the six senators who visited war-torn Marawi City recently to hold a consultation and dialogue for the BBL.

Aside from Sen. Bam, Senators Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, Migz Zubiri, Sonny Angara and Risa Hontiveros joined the consultation. They also visited ground zero, the main part of the city that was destroyed by firefights and bombings.

Sen. Bam pointed out that the Senate, from the majority to the minority, agrees that the BBL is needed to help stop violence and boost development in the region through autonomy.

“Huwag nating ipantapat ang karahasan sa terorismo. Kapayapaan at kasaganaan ang ating ipantatapat dito sa pamamagitan ng BBL,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the Marawi siege orchestrated by members of the Maute group in May of last year.

Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 1661 that pushes for the passage of the BBL. Before drafting the said measure, Sen. Bam has consulted several stakeholders, including the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BBL), to conform to the present needs in the region.

Sen. Bam: Let’s not put BBL in the backburner

While it was not included in the priority reforms during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) should still be pursued as it can help bring peace in Marawi and the whole of Mindanao, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
“Wala man ang BBL sa mga inilatag na prayoridad na panukala, huwag natin ito isantabi. Magsisilbi itong daan upang maabot ang matagal nang inaasam na kapayapaan sa Mindanao,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam is a member of the Senate Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation, which will conduct its initial hearing Tuesday.
 
Recently, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) submitted to President Duterte a draft of the revised BBL However, the President did not raise the BBL during the last LEDAC.
 
“I hope we can still push for this reform for our countrymen in the Bangsamoro region,” stressed Sen. Bam, “Let’s pass the best possible version of the BBL and establish peace and prosperity in the region.”
 
The senator also underscored his belief that the BBL can help fight terrorism, rebellion and crime through peace and development and education and jobs.
 
“Sa tulong ng BBL masusugpo natin ang matagal nang problema sa Mindanao, lalo na ang terorismo at rebelyon sa pamamagitan ng kaunlaran, trabaho at edukasyon,” said Sen. Bam.
 
In his first four years as senator, Sen. Bam has pursued jobs, education and livelihood opportunities for Filipinos through the Go Negosyo Act, Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and Youth Entrepreneurship Act.
 
“Naniniwala tayo na kapag nabigyan ng pagkakataon upang makapag-aral, makapagtrabaho at magnegosyo ang ating mga kababayan, madali tayong makakaahon sa kahirapan at magkakaroon ng magandang kinabukasan,” said Sen. Bam.

BIDA KA!: Di na-pick up

Mahaba at mabunga ang na­ging usapan. Tumagal ng mahigit isang oras ang aming pag-uusap sa mahahalagang isyu na bumabalot sa ating mga kabataan.

Sa bandang dulo ng usapan, isang mag-aaral ng Ateneo de Davao ang nagbahagi ng kanyang pananaw at hinaing ukol sa Mamasapano tragedy at sa kapayapaan sa Mindanao.

Hindi napigilan ni Amara na mapaluha habang naglalahad ng kanyang emosyon ukol sa panawagang “all-out war” sa Mindanao na isinusulong ng maraming sektor kasunod ng nangyaring trahedya sa Mamasapano.

Ayon sa kanya, karamihan sa mga taga-Mindanao ay tutol sa all-out war. Marami rin sa kanila ay aktibo sa mga forum at iba’t ibang proyekto na nagsusulong ng kapayapaan sa rehiyon.

Subalit ang ikinasasama ng kanyang loob, hindi man lang nabigyan ng espasyo sa traditional media, gaya ng diyaryo, radyo at telebisyon, ang ginagawa nilang pagsisikap na maisulong ang kapayapaan.

Wala akong nasabi kay Amara kundi sumang-ayon sa kanya.

Noong umagang iyon, bumisita ako sa isang local radio station doon at ang tambad ng anchor sa akin ay kung bakit daw ako tahimik sa isyu ng Mamasapano.

Mga Bida, nabigla ako sa tanong dahil nang mangyari ang trahedya ay agad tayong naglabas ng mga pahayag na sumusuporta sa paghahanap ng katarungan para sa mga namatayan at ang pagpapatuloy ng pagsulong ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao.

Kaso, hindi nagiging mabenta ang ganitong posisyon sa media, kaya ‘di ito na-pick up.

Mukhang mas naging mabenta ang pagtawag ng “all-out war” noong mga nakaraang linggo.

Ngunit, nagtitiwala pa rin ako sa iba’t ibang sektor na huhupa rin ang galit ng taumbayan, manunumbalik ang tiwala sa isa’t isa at hihingi rin ng kapayapaan para sa lahat ng Pilipino.

***

Sa ngayon, dalawa ang hinahanap na posisyon mula sa mga mambabatas. Ito ay kung pabor o tutol sa Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Ang mas popular na pagsagot sa tanong ay simpleng “oo” o “hindi” lamang.

Ngunit, mga Bida, kahit na gusto kong sumagot nang ganoon, ang usapin ng BBL ay hindi ganoon kasimple.

Ang pagtalakay sa BBL ay hindi nangyayari sa mga paaralan na “finished or not finished, pass your paper” tulad ng gustong mangyari ng ilang sektor.

Tungkulin naming mga senador at kongresista na pag-aralan ang mga panukalang ipinapasa sa amin, gaya ng BBL.

Mahalagang mahimay ang bawat probisyon ng BBL upang ito’y maging epektibong batas na totoong makatutugon sa isyu ng kapayapaan at pag-unlad ng Mindanao.

Dapat ding silipin ang ilang mga sensitibong probisyon ng panukala upang malaman kung ito ba’y alinsunod sa ating Saligang Batas.

Kabilang na rito ang pagkakaroon ng Bangsamoro ng sari­ling grupo na mamamahala sa halalan at pag-alis sa saklaw ng Commission on Audit (COA), Office of the Ombudsman, Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), at ang Philippine National Police (PNP) sa kanilang mga teritoryo.

Kamakailan lang, may ilang miyembro ng indigenous peoples organizations ang dumalaw sa ating tanggapan na humihinging matiyak na kasama ang kanilang karapatan sa mga lupaing masasakop ng Bangsamoro.

Mahalaga na maitulak natin ang mga pagbabago sa BBL na magpapatibay sa batas upang ito’y maging isa sa mga susi sa paghahatid ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao.

Inaanyayahan ko kayo na basahin ang mga panukala ng BBL at samahan kami na siguraduhing matutugunan ang panga­ngailangan ng ating mga Pilipino sa rehiyon at sa buong bansa!

 

First Published on Abante Online

Transcript: Excerpts from Sen. Bam’s interview with PRIB media

Q: Iyon pong sinasabing nag-o-organize sila ngayon ng People Power?

Sen. Bam:  Of course, karapatan ng bawat Pilipino iyan. Iyan naman ang ipinaglaban natin noong 1986 na magkaroon ng demokrasya ang taumbayan. Lahat naman tayo libre na sabihin ang nasa loob ng ating puso.

In fact, most Filipinos do that now online. So kung iyan talaga ang pakay na magkaroon ng isang rally para i-voice out ang kanilang nasa saloobin, and that’s their right.

At the end of the day, we’re hoping na hindi na tayo magka-coup kasi ang isang coup, that would set us back by so many years. Ang arangkada ngayon  ng ating ekonomiya, sayang naman kung magkaka-kudeta tayo. Mas makakagulo pa.

I think right now, and ito rin iyong nasa isip ko habang nag-hi-hearing kami sa Senado, hanapin natin ang hustisya para sa ating kapatid na kapulisan. Let’s look for justice. Ilabas ang katotohanan, siguraduhin natin ang mga pamilya nila na naaalagaan and of course, iyong mga perpetrators and combatants, hulihin.

At the end of the day, iyon pa rin iyong nasabi ni Gen. Espina, iyong ang nasabi ni Gen. Napenas, na hinahanap nilang hustisya para sa namatay na kapulisan. I think, in the Senate, we’re doing our best to be able to achieve those objectives.

Q: Kailangan pa ba ng dagdag na hearing?

Sen. Bam: That’s up to the chairperson. But I think yung hearings nakakatulong sa taumbayan. Noong unang lumabas ang isyung ito, marami talagang misinformation na lumalabas. Marami ring na-publish at marami ring napag-usapan sa media na after the hearings nalaman nating hindi totoo.

I think the hearings are very helpful in terms of bringing out the truth. Saka ang taumbayan natin nakikita nila kung ano talaga ang nangyari.

Makikita mo naman sa hearing, unfiltered iyan. Kung ano ang nasa isip at nasa puso ng resource speakers, whether from the AFP, from the PNP at mula sa iba’t ibang sangay ng gobyerno, malaya naman silang magsalita at ilabas ang kanilang iniisip.

Q: Sir ano sa tingin niyo ang mga questions na left unanswered?

Sen. Bam: We are undergoing our executive sessions right now. We’re hoping that after the executive session, all of these questions will be answered. We did agree na maglalabas ng statement ang chairperson after all executive sessions are finished at hindi pa tapos.

Q: Bakit ipinatigil sa House ang hearing? Was it intended to save the President from further embarrassment?

 Sen. Bam: To be honest, wala akong impormasyon regarding why the House finished that. That’s their business. Dito naman sa atin, wala pa naman kaming pinag-uusapan na tatapusin basta basta. In fact, we’re in the middle of our hearings right now. Kaya lang at this point, executive session tayo.

Q: Without discussing the specifics of the executive sessions, bakit umabot ng apat na oras si Napenas?

 Sen. Bam: Of course, may mga tanong at marami rin kaming nagtatanong. So I’ll leave it at that.

Q: Even after three hearings, ganun pa rin karami ang tanong?

 Sen. Bam: I don’t really want to discuss kung ano ang nasa loob ng executive session but let’s leave it at that. Maraming tanong, maraming nagtanong. Unlike in the open hearing, doon naman malaya kaming magtanong at magkaroon ng follow-up questions din.

Q: May mga sagot ba sa executive session na puwedeng ibulgar sa public?

 Sen. Bam: Wala pa pero after we finished, pagkatapos ng pangatlong executive session natin today. Kung tapos na talaga ang executive session, the committee will come out with a report kung ano ang mga puwedeng ilabas sa publiko.

Q: After Napenas kahapon sir, all questions nasagot na niya?

 Sen. Bam: All questions para sa kanya.

Q: Kung di puwedeng i-discuss sa iba, kayo-kayo lang nakakaalam na mga senators?

 Sen. Bam: Don’t forget na iyong pinaka-output nito is committee report na magbibigay ng recommendations. At iyong recommendations will go the appropriate agencies, whether ito iyong investigating body o sa korte.

Q: Kailangan na bang magsalita si P-Noy sa kanyang role sa Mamasapano?

 Sen. Bam: Ang pinagtatakhan ko nga, noong last public address niya, inako na niya ang responsibilidad. Sinabi na niya I’m responsible for this, I’m the commander in chief at nasabi na rin niya na iyong output nito, which of course, ang pagkamatay ng mga kasama sa kapulisan, dadalhin na niya iyan hanggang sa mamatay siya.

Everytime na may nagsasabi na hindi niya inaako ang responsibilidad, nagtataka ako dahil doon sa statement niya, inako niya iyong responsibilidad. I’m not sure what else he needs to say. He said it’s his responsibility. He owned up to it already.

Responsibility, accountability. Hindi ko alam kung ano pa ang hinahanap ng mga bumabatikos sa kanya. Inako na niya iyon. Now with regard to legalities or liabilities, that what agencies are for. Kung ano iyong iniimbestigahan nila. But with regard to taking accountability and responsibility, palagay ko he already admitted that. Nasabi na niya iyon sa kanyang public address and that was just few days ago.

Q: Kung kayo, kailangan pa ba ng isang hearing?

 Sen. Bam: I think ang taumbayan natin, may mga impormasyon na kailangan silang marinig mula sa resource speakers, at hindi mula sa amin. Palagay ko, magkakaroon pa kami ng isa pang public hearing but it’s really up to the chairman to decide.

Q: Sir iyong sa BBL, ano po ang gusto niyong amyendahan?

 Sen. Bam: Even before the Mamasapano incident, marami sa aming mga senador, gustong maglagay ng amendments para mas mapaganda iyong batas o mas maging mayaman iyong batas natin.

For example, may mga indigenous peoples group na lumapit sa atin noon, hindi lang sa akin kundi sa marami pang senador, na nagre-request na maglagay ng probisyon safeguarding the rights of indigeous peoples in the Bangsamoro autonomous areas. Balak ko talagang ipasok iyon.

Hopefully, dito sa nangyari sa Mamasapano, I would expect na pag natuloy na ang BBL hearings natin, I’m sure marami sa mga kasama ko, magsa-suggest ng ways to improve or ways to safeguard the Bangsamoro Basic Law in the future.

Q: Iyong executive session, may mga naging part na posibleng makaimpluwensiya sa madali o mas matagal ng suliraning ito?

 Sen. Bam: Hindi lang sa executive session kundi sa buong nangyari. Itong nangyari, kailangang maresolba muna, ano ang nangyari talaga, ano ang katotohanan, sino iyong mga kailangang managot sa nangyaring ito and they have to be brought to justice.

Mahirap i-tackle iyong BBL kung iyong mga bagay na iyan, left hanging pa rin. Hindi pa rin naso-solve.

Because of what happened sa Mamasapano, malaki talaga ang epekto niyan sa BBL. I’m hoping iyong concerns ng taumbayan, iyong concerns ng maraming cause-oriented groups, masagot talaga.

We still need to push for peace pero kung kinakailangang baguhin, i-amend o tingnan ulit ang BBL, kailangan siguro talagang gawing iyon.

Matagal ko na ring panawagan iyon. Iyong mga taong pumatay, iyong mga taong gumawa ng heinous act, gumawa ng summary execution, kailangang madala sila sa hustisya, kailangang dumaan sa tamang proseso.

From there, we go to the BBL na meron na tayong mga puwedeng i-enhance sa BBL o mayroon tayong puwedeng baguhin doon na mas magiging malakas pa iyong batas na iyan at mase-safeguard pa ang pangamba ng maraming tao tungkol diyan.

Q: What happened to the Truth Commission?

 Sen. Bam: The House did not go for it. So di siya matutuloy. At the end of the day, I think we’re able to bring out the truth in our Senate hearings.

It should have been a law. Batas kasi ang bubuo noon. Ang counterparts namin sa Kongreso, hindi na ito itutuloy. They basically said, idaan na lang sa hearing.

The Speaker had suggested just a joint committee hearing instead. But then, hindi rin natuloy iyon, naging separate congressional hearings na lang.

At least, iyong assessment ko, iyong Senate hearings naman natin, nakakapaglabas naman ng katotohan. I’m personally satisfied with the openness of the hearings. Iyong mga tanong diretsahan. Iyong mga sumasagot, nakakasagot naman.

Q: May lumalabas na isyu na tumulong ang US sa planning, strategy and extrication ng sundalo. Hindi ba kailangang i-subject sa investigation ng Senate iyon?

 Sen. Bam: Noong tinanong iyan kay Gen. Napenas, he requested na pag-usapan nila iyan sa executive session. By later today, the committee may have some statement.

Q: Nire-require pa po ba ang MILF leadership sa executive session?

 Sen. Bam: That’s really up to the committee to invite them or not. Ang alam kong naka-schedule today are two other generals.

Q: Ano ang masasabi niyo sa mga pulis na pumasok sa mga pulis na pumasok para hulihin si Marwan?

 Sen. Bam: Matapang talaga sila and they accomplished their mission. I think, iyon ang isang bagay ang nakakalimutan ng maraming tao. Namatay sila doing their service, namatay sila making this world a better place. Nakakalimutan ng maraming tao.

Alam ko other senators felt failure ang nangyari but ako pero personally I commend them. In fact I have a resolution commending hindi lang ang namatay kundi pati na rin iyong mga nabuhay.

Kasi they accomplished their mission. Talagang they risked their lives for the country.

Alam niyo si Marwan, siya ang responsible sa Bali bombings. He is also responsible for hundreds of deaths dito mismo sa Pilipinas. They accomplished their mission. They did a good job.

As we know, iyong nangyari very unfortunate, talagang tragic. May mga namatay at iyong mga taong responsable diyan on both sides kailangang managot.

Q: Isa-suggest niyo ba sa komite na mag-ocular sa pinangyarihan?

 Sen. Bam: Hindi pa po napapag-usapan ang suggestion na iyan. Right now, wala pa namang nagsa-suggest but if the chairperson feels na ang susunod doon, I will go with them. Pero sa ngayon hindi pa napag-uusapan iyan.

Q: At this point, may nakikita kayong grounds o grievances para i-demand ang ouster ng Pangulo?

 Sen. Bam: No. I mean, think about it. Ouster, napakabigat noon. Ouster, that’s an extra-constitutional act. Napakabigat niyan. Kailangan tayong magtiwala na may proseso naman tayong puwedeng mag-resolve ng issues na ito.

I understand, emotions are very high pero at the end of the day, ang hinahanap pa rin natin ay iyong magiging maganda sa ating bansa. I think an ouster, which means a coup, will bring us back so many years.

Siyempre iyong democracy tayo, kung ano ang gustong sabihin ng isang tao, nasa kanya iyon. I may not agree with you pero ipaglalaban ko ang karapatan mo na sabihin ang nasa loob mo. That’s the democracy that we fought for.

Q: So di made-destabilize ang administration?

 Sen. Bam: For destab kasi, kailangan mo ng kapulisan, kailangan mo ng army, kailangan mo ng mass-based support. I’m hoping we can resolve all of our issues through the proper government processes and through proper judicial processes, hindi na kailangan ng extra-constitutional means.

Bam: BBL Should Be Pro-Poor, Pro-Business

Senator Bam Aquino calls on fellow lawmakers to focus on the provisions that will spur jobs and livelihood of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to ensure that the growth it expected to bring to the region will be inclusive to all Mindanaoans.

“The BBL’s economic provisions must be thoroughly scrutinized to make sure that all Mindanaoans will truly benefit from the growth that they’ve been waiting for a long time,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

If enacted into law, the BBL is expected to usher in lasting peace in Mindanao with the creation of a Bangsamoro entity, led by officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Aside from peace and order, Sen. Bam believes that the BBL will boost economic activity in the region, resulting in more jobs and livelihood for the poor people in the region.

“With the anticipated development in the region’s peace and order, local and foreign investors will see Mindanao as the next best business destination due to its untapped potential, hardowrking and innovative citizenry and vast natural resources,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam said the influx of investors will lead to fresh jobs and livelihoods in the region, giving Mindanaoans a chance to provide for the needs of their families and get out of poverty.

“The opportunity for every Filipino to earn for themselves and for their families must be realized through the BBL,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

In addition, Sen. Bam said the BBL will hasten agricultural development and modernization and address the looming power supply problem in the region.

Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier announced that it will prioritize the passage of the BBL, on top of other economic-related bills.

Mindanao has 10 of 16 Poorest Provinces in the Region

Ten of the poorest provinces in the country are in Mindanao, with Lanao del Norte leading the way with a 67.3 percent poverty incidence.

Aside from Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Norte, Saranggani, North Cotabato, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Sultan Kudarat and Sulu also made the list of the top 16 poorest provinces.

The problem exists despite Mindanao’s vast natural resources, which remained untapped until now due to the decades-long conflict in the region.

However, Senator Bam Aquino believes that things will turn for the better for Mindanao with the imminent passage of the Bangsamoro political entity and the ASEAN Integration in 2015.

“The expected approval of the Bangsamoro political entity and the ASEAN Integration in 2015 will turn Mindanao into a magnet for businesses and investors,” said Aquino.

Aquino added that the 1st Mindanao Social Business Summit, which will be held from June 4-6 at the Central Mindanao University in Maramag, Bukidnon, will play a key role in addressing problems hounding the region.

Carrying the theme, “Wealth Creation with Justice and Peace through Social Entrepreneurship,” the summit’s goal is to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity in Mindanao thru social innovation and entrepreneurship.

The summit will advocate for partnerships among stakeholders the need for a holistic support mechanism towards inclusive growth to reduce poverty and discuss the implications of development in Mindanao for social entrepreneurship.

During the summit, Aquino will discuss the importance of inclusive growth and social entrepreneurship in reducing poverty.

A former social entrepreneur before becoming a lawmaker, Aquino will share his experience with the Hapinoy program, which he co-founded, to delegates from the business and government sectors, officials from different universities and other NGOs from Mindanao.

Aquino will also tackle his inclusive growth bills that will help boost micro, small and medium enterprises, leading to creation of jobs and other livelihood for millions of Filipinos.

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