FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE GPH – MILF PEACE PROCESS

What is CAB?

The CAB is the final political settlement between the GPH and the MILF signed on 27 March 2014. The CAB serves as the basis for the drafting of the BBL – the proposed legislative measure that will establish a parliamentary autonomous region and will replace the current ARMM. The proposed new region will be provided with more fiscal and political powers in accordance with the mandate of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Who or what is the Bangsamoro?

Bangsamoro is an identity, not a citizenship. They are those who, at the time of conquest and colonization, were considered natives or original inhabitants of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago and its adjacent islands including Palawan, and their descendants whether mixed or of full native blood will have the right to identify themselves as Bangsamoro by ascription or self-ascription.

Bangsamoro can also refer to the autonomous political entity that will replace ARMM.

Will the Bangsamoro Government uphold the rights of all, including the non-Bangsamoro people in the region?

Yes. The purpose of the reform is to correct the social injustice that is prevalent in the current system. The reforms slated in the BBL will ensure that no Filipino is left on the wayside as the nation’s economy reaches new heights, regardless of his/her religion or ethnic background.

What is the role of the MNLF in the proposed Bangsamoro region as guided by the CAB?

While the BBL is borne out of the government’s negotiations with the MILF, the Bangsamoro is not just for the MILF. Its provisions are inclusive and not partial to any Moro front. As a matter of fact, MNLF Chair Abul Khayr Alonto himself fully supports the passage of the BBL and the establishment of the Bangsamoro. He has cited in several occasions that the MNLF supports the Bangsamoro peace process.

Is the establishment of the Bangsamoro constitutional?

Yes. As a matter of fact, the living framers of the 1987 Philippine Constitution has issued a statement of support on the creation of the Bangsamoro and the immediate passage of the BBL. In their statement, they noted that the “reason tells us that a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region can close the centuries-old gap between law and justice and that we are on the cusp of a historic opportunity to make it happen”.

In its simplest terms, what is the BBL and what are its objectives?

The proposed BBL aims to establish an autonomous region in Mindanao that will replace the ARMM. It was drafted by the BTC
based on the CAB. In accordance with the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the BBL recognizes the distinctiveness of the Bangsamoro and the need for a government that will provide the Bangsamoro with meaningful autonomy or self-determination while remaining a vital part of the Philippines.

What is the status of the proposed BBL? Why is it important to pass the proposed law as soon as possible?

Despite overwhelming support from peace advocates around the country and the international community, the 16th Congress adjourned last February 2016 without passing the BBL. This means that the bill, despite having reached plenary deliberations in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, will need to be refiled in the 17th Congress.

What is the assurance that the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao can be ended by the peace process and the implementation of the CAB as well as the passage of the BBL?

The CAB and the BBL are borne out of 17 years of peace negotiations. These make them the most viable solutions to the 47-year old Mindanao conflict. The only way to find out if it can truly end the armed conflict is to put to the test. But we can infer from the ongoing ceasefire between the Parties that the CAB and the BBL are indeed the crucial elements for lasting peace in Mindanao.

Up until the unfortunate incident in Mamasapano on January 2015, there has been no armed confrontation between the GPH and the MILF since 2012.

Will the establishment of a new Bangsamoro autonomous region lead to their secession from the Philippine sovereignty?

No. The Bangsamoro is an autonomous region of the Philippines. Its inhabitants will remain Filipino citizens. Secession was never on the negotiating agenda for the Parties under the Aquino administration.

How will the CAB address the problems of poverty and underdevelopment in Mindanao? How does the passage of BBL affect the country in general?

The full implementation of the CAB will stabilize the security situation in Mindanao which will jumpstart economic development in the area. Through a DevPlus publication, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) forecasted that the country’s economy would benefit immensely if the BBL would be enacted because business activity would boost economic growth in the proposed Bangsamoro region to 12.8 percent annually, thus reducing the rate of poverty.

Meanwhile, an estimation of nearly 550,000 additional jobs and 7.4 percent economic growth for the Bangsamoro was projected once the BBL passed, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). A JICA study also showed that the Bangsamoro’s agricultural potential is positive, with nutrient-rich soils and ample rainfall distributed throughout the year.

Should you support the passage of the BBL even if you are not a resident in the proposed region?

Yes. The pursuit of a just and lasting peace in Mindanao should be a concern of all Filipinos, regardless of your home address. The Mindanao conflict holds our country back from its full potential and it is only through national unity that we can rise above this 47-year old armed conflict and usher in a new era of peace for our children.