Duterte worries on mixing tribes in one Bangsamoro entity

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the presentation of firearms handed over by surrenderees from the Abu Sayyaf Group at the Capitol Site in Patikul, Sulu on March 26, 2018, expresses his intent of talking to Moro extremists citing that he is more than interested in hearing the concerns of the Moros. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

While the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is being processed in Congress, President Rodrigo Duterte said putting together Muslim provinces in Mindanao with those in the Sulu archipelago in one Bangsamoro entity makes him worried.

“Nangangamba ako (I’m worried), would it do well to mix it all in one pot. Meaning to say, kayo bang mga Joloano handa na mamumuno ang isang Maranao? Kagaya ng ARMM [Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] ngayon (are you, people of Jolo, ready to be lead by a Maranao? Just like ARMM today),” Duterte said during the handover of loose firearms and presentation of Abu Sayyaf surrenderees on Monday, March 26.

“Magkanya-kanya ba o pwede bang isang ilagay mo sa isang governing authority (Should they have their own ways or can you put them all under one governing authority) and who would it be?” he added.

The President said that he sees no problem with a Maranao leading a group consisting of Maranaos; however, he wondered if a Maranao could handle peoples of the Kagan, Sama, Yakan, or Tausug tribes.

“Would it also be good? Whether we do it by the regions of the tribe or iba dito (is this different) and a separate governing authority. I have to fathom it,” Duterte stressed.

“Ibig sabihin, da-dive pa ako tapos kunin ko yung ilalim talaga kung ano ang solusyon (Meaning to say, I have to dive and get to the bottom of it to know the solution),” he added.

Duterte said he would want to have a result on this matter by the end of the year.

“That’s why I need to talk to you and I want to finish it at this year, ngayon na (Now),” the President noted.

“I want it solved to the best way that is acceptable to everybody. Na walang magsabi ganun, “ayaw naming ‘yan kasi ’pag sila, sila-sila lang (So that no one will say ‘We don’t like it because it is only for them’),” he continued.

Last January 2018, Duterte, through his spokesperson Harry Roque, said he wanted Congress to pass the proposed BBL before pursuing Charter change (cha-cha), noting that it would be hard to implement it if the new federal constitution would be ratified.

Roque announced recently that lawmakers from the upper and lower chambers already informed the President that their target date to pass the proposed law would be on May 30, 2018.

“We cannot fail on this (BBL).

The next generation is counting on us,” Roque quoted Duterte as saying.

Duterte has been consistent in insisting the importance of BBL as, according to him, war may ensue if it is not passed.