DAVAO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will continue to shoulder the salaries of 5,700 government workers based in Sulu until the end of the year despite the Supreme Court’s decision to exclude the province from the region.
PENDATUN
BARMM spokesperson Mohd Asnin Pendatun assured that all permanent personnel will receive their salary
covering September 1 to 15 of the current fiscal year.
However, Pendatun said that starting September 16 onwards, permanent and contract of service personnel are required to comply with the signing of the document of undertaking stating that in the event of disallowance, the received salary shall be returned to the government.
On September 9, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) but ruled that Sulu is not part of BARMM after the province voted against the law’s ratification in 2019.
“We are looking into the general welfare of the Bangsamoro people in Sulu, leading to our recommendations that are mutually beneficial to all concerned,” Pendatun said.
He pointed out that the contracts of the COSP need to be binding specifically with the regional government.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim had earlier that the Bangsamoro government will exert all means to ensure that the people of Sulu could still benefit from the provisions provided for in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
Ebrahim emphasized that Sulu is an important part of the Bangsamoro region based on laws of the land and its vital contributions to the region’s history, culture, trade and struggles of the Moro people.
“Hinding-hindi makukumpleto ang Bangsamoro kung wala ang Sulu at ang mga mamamayan nito,” he said. (The Bangsamoro region won’t be complete without the province of Sulu and its people)
Pendatun added that the Bangsamoro interim government is still looking at legal options to address the SC decision to preserve the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process.
The Bangsamoro government has assured a smooth transition in government services and operations as the Muslim communities in the province could still avail themselves of the services of the Bangsamoro government as provided for by the law.
The exclusion of Sulu has left the BARMM with the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi.