Davao mayor urges PNoy to draft a ‘Plan B’ in preparation for a BBL rejection

To prevent an outbreak of violence in Mindanao

Ormoc City, Leyte—With the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law facing an imminent rejection in Congress and even in the Supreme Court, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte called on the national government to draft a fallback plan to prevent an outbreak of violence in the Southern Philippines.

The BBL, a measure designed to enable the establishment of a largely autonomous "sub-state" for the Muslims of Mindanao, is expected to be stripped of its “unconstitutional provisions” which will not augur well with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Mr. Duterte said the national anger fanned by the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25 and the questionable provisions in the proposed law, especially the establishment of an almost independent police and security force in the Bangsamoro territory, almost certainly assures the demise of the BBL.

“As a lawyer, I have my misgivings about some of the provisions of the BBL, especially on the issue of an almost independent police and security force in the Bangsamoro area which could not be controlled later on by the national police,” Mr. Duterte said.

“A separate armed forces and police force for the Bangsamoro area is simply unacceptable. I myself, while I support the peace process, will not agree to that," he said.

But while the rejection of the BBL is now considered a given, Mr. Duterte said Mindanao leaders like him have not received any clear guidance yet from the national government on what steps to take should Congress or the Supreme Court thrash the proposed law.

“We have not been called (by Malacañang). We don't know what to do," Mr. Duterte told members of the media in Ormoc City on March 10 where he continued his advocacy for Federalism in a nation-wide sortie called “Listening Tour.”

“I have asked several mayors and governors in Mindanao if they have been called or consulted, and the invariable answer is negative,” he said.

“Mr. President, kausapin ninyo naman kami.  Pag sumabog ang gulo, kaming mga taga-Mindanao ang magiging biktima, lalo na mga inosenteng sibilyan”, Mr. Duterte pointed out.

"It could be a question of management style but during the time of President (Fidel V.) Ramos, we city mayors were invited to regular meetings, including National Security Council briefings,” Mr. Duterte disclosed.

Mr. Duterte said under the present administration "we have not been called.  Malacañang decides Mindanao’s fate all by themselves”.

The colorful city mayor is now being eyed by many sectors as a presidential material because of his deep understanding of the Mindanao problem, a 22-year government service untainted by corruption and his effective campaign against drugs and criminality.

Mr. Duterte has been supportive of the peace process but bewailed the lack of appreciation of the government peace negotiators of political and cultural realities in Mindanao.

Mr. Duterte said the negotiators should have taken into consideration the cultural differences between the Muslims of Central Mindanao composed of the Maguindanao, Maranao, Iranun and Kagan tribes, and the Muslims of the islands which include the Tausugs, Yakans, Samas and Subanens.

“These two groups of Muslims have distinct cultures and each group would not want to be dominated by the other," he said explaining that this was the reason while the MILF under then Chairman Hashim Salamat "broke off" from Nur Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front after the 1996 Peace Agreement.

Today, MNLF leaders are complaining that the new agreement between the government and the MILF effectively thrashes an earlier agreement it signed with the MNLF which was a result of the Tripoli Agreement.

Mr. Duterte advocates a shift from a Unitary Presidential form of government to a Federal Parliamentary form, which aside from giving a proper constitutional framework for unity in diversity, would also result in a more equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities across the land. 

“Federalism will not only spur the development of the regions but also provide the best fallback position to the BBL," Mr. Duterte pointed out.

Mr. Duterte, however, said that since it would take some time and require a process before a shift to a Federal form of government is realized, Mindanao leaders now should be given guidance on what to do in the face of a period of uncertainty following the rejection of the BBL.

“Pakinggan naman sana kaming mga taga-Mindanao.  At isama na ang National Security Council and the Council of Leaders.  Together, let us forge a national consensus on the Mindanao situation”, the Davao City mayor stated.