At the seventh hearing of the Senate subcommittee on BBL here Thursday, former Sulu Governor Abdusakul Tan raised anew his call for Congress, particularly the Senate, to maintain democracy in the approval of the measure which will replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
"Let's give our brothers and sisters the freedom of choice. Make it democratic. Let the people choose for themselves," Tan said in the hearing held at the Notre Dame of Jolo College.
Tan, among other concerns, suggested the voting on the BBL be done by province, and not be based on entirety.
There were also a number of proposals in the public hearing to present the contents of the proposed law at the plebiscite to address the supposed lack of information among local officials and their constituents.
Vote by province
While stressing his support for the BBL's passage, Tan noted that the measure compels areas in the ARMM to join the Bangsamoro region.
The former Sulu governor, in his position submitted before the Senate panel, took exception to the draft BBL provision establishing the Bangsamaro Autonomous Region if majority of the votes cast in the entirety of the ARMM are in favor of the measure.
In effect, all the provinces and cities of the ARMM will automatically be part of the Bangsamoro region.
"This, then, is a guarantee towards the road to failure," Tan said.
Noting the "socio-cultural differences between and among Muslim communities," Tan said the move would be a "hostage situation" when minorities in the ARMM opt not to join in the plebiscite.
Tan also added that voting should be done per provision, and not based on the entirety of the proposal.
Tan's son, and current Sulu Vice Governor Nurunisah Tan echoed the sentiment, admitting that most of their people still lack knowledge on the BBL, including himself. Even if they get convinced to vote for the measure, the younger Tan said they cannot speak for the whole of the Tausug community which has a population of one million.
Aside from the Tans, a judge from the Sulu Regional Trial Court also aired that confining the question to merely a "yes-or-no" would be an injustice to rights of the Bangsamoro people.
'Step backward'
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, however, said the proposals might delay the approval of BBL and be a "step backward" to attaining peace in Mindanao.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
"I find it difficult if we will have opt-out provision kasi it will be moving step backward to peace. Imagine kung gagawin natin opt-out provision tapos Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Maguindanao at Lanao naiwan sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region tapos yung Sulu naiwan as part of the Philippine government. Kailangan nila pumunta sa Manila para humingi ng pondo," Zubiri told reporters at the sidelines of the hearing.
Zubiri said member-provinces of the ARMM should remain in the new Bangsamoro region.
"I think it would be a step backward, it should be voted as a whole and the main core area should not be diluted," he said.
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said the suggestions "need studies" as the proposed BBL had already undergone several consultations.
Both senators, on the other hand, assured to address the lack in awareness as they tapped the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and local government units for information campaign.
'Sulu' Sea remains
Zubiri, meanwhile, said senators do not see a problem with retaining the name of Sulu Sea in the proposed Bangsamoro region.
During the hearing, the elder Tan asked the Senate not to allow the renaming of the sea to Bangsamoro Waters.
He said that while Sulu province does not claim ownership over the said body of water nor its resources, its name, he said, is part of their history.
"We are strongly considering to make amendments on the BTC's BBL version to reflect the sentiments of our brothers and sisters of Sulu kasi historical naman talaga ang pangalan nun. Since the creation of the Philippines, it has been the sea of Sulu or Sulu sea."
Most of them do not find that a problem, Zubiri concluded.