MNLF members during the Bangsamoro visioning exercise. MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/4 November) – Despite the recent petition before the Supreme Court of Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II to void the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and to stop the plebiscite scheduled early next year, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Sulu yesterday declared their support to the law.
Prof. Sahie Udjah of MNLF Sulu, in the Bangsamoro Visioning Exercise last November 3, appealed to the other MNLF factions in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to not put the blame on them as well.
“We appeal, in behalf of the MNLF Sulu delegates, that you help us,” Udjah said.
“It is not only the MNLF Sulu that is opposed against the Sulu politician who filed (the petition) but all of the Bangsamoro who are pro-BOL,” he added.
But Udjah also admitted that some MNLF factions in Sulu are campaigning against the BOL although they are supporting federalism at the same time
“This is why we are faced with difficulty in our BOL advocacy,” he said.
“We have to double our effort may it be in the civil society organizations, MNLF, academe (to show them) that this fight is getting stronger now. Even until the Supreme Court, we will fight the politicians against this,” he said.
Meanwhile, other MNLF leaders also assured that MNLF Sulu will not be blamed for what the Sulu governor did.
Tan’s petition calls for a temporary restraining order against the implementation of the BOL.
However, Romeo Sema, vice chair for political affairs of the MNLF Central Committee explained a TRO may only apply if a bill is still being deliberated in Congress, not on a law that has been signed by the President.
The MNLF expressed confidence the Supreme Court will junk the petition.
Sema added the real problem is not the petition against the BOL but changing the mindset of every Bangsamoro so he/she may avoid corruption which is among the reasons why the region lags behind in terms of development.
“We have to create the atmosphere, the opportunity for every Bangsamoro to be productive,” he said. (Julianne A. Suarez/for MindaNews)
