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High court to ‘reconsider Sulu removal from BARMM’
By J.Lo
“I politely appeal to Supreme Court to think about implications of such decision,” Deputy speaker Nabil Tan of Bangsamoro parliament has urged Supreme Court to reconsider its decision to exclude Sulu from core territory of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM.
Tan said High Court should take into account “operative fact” that Sulu has been part of BARMM since its inception five years ago.
Court ruled favorably on petition of his elder brother, Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, to exclude province from BARMM since its residents voted against inclusion into region’s territory during plebiscite in 2019.
Creation of BARMM product of 22 years of peace talks between government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front was premised on 2012 Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro and 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro.
According to the deputy speaker, exclusion poses serious implications in Sulu, including fiscal problems that can stifle governance and development initiatives in the province.
“Legal theories abound on question of who is now responsible for Sulu…lack of clarification allows government branches, offices, agencies and local government units to evade accountability…to me, this invites greater instability in governance,” Tan said.
Muslimin Sema, BARMM labor and employment minister, said Moro National Liberation Front is planning to embark on signature campaign to manifest their opposition to the ruling.
“We can’t stop our members from signing appeal to Supreme Court to reconsider that ruling…they felt sad because creation of ARMM that, in essence, eventually became BARMM was paid for dearly… paid for with blood, sweat and tears of Moro guerillas who fought for it for about three decades,” Sema said.
Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino proposed creation of transition fund for Sulu following its separation, pitching idea to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) during its budget deliberations at Senate.
“Let your creative juices out of your mind to perhaps create Sulu transition fund for every agency and department, especially because these would be affected by Supreme Court decision separating Sulu from BARMM,” Tolentino said.
He expressed concern sudden separation of Sulu would disrupt government transactions and delivery of services, adding that transition fund could help province in its anticipated transfer to Region IX or Zamboanga Peninsula.
“You have regional officers in Region IX, and perhaps Sulu will be transferred there…what happens now to Sulu…is it possible to carve out something from your budget allocation to form Sulu fund… could come from small share from each agency, but if pooled, this transition fund could be substantial enough,” Tolentino said.
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos has coordinated with his BARMM interior ministry counterpart to retain status quo while department solves its “dilemma on how to get these funds.”
Department of Budget and Management bureau director Carlos Castro said comment is being prepared to set up “funding mechanism” for Sulu that would cover salaries, government assistance and transition fund.
Commission on Elections has assured historic first BARMM parliamentary elections would still push through next year at the same time with national and local elections.
But poll body would still study on what to do with seven parliamentary seats reserved for Sulu that would be left vacant.
ISKUP! 