Cotabato City is contiguous to the ARMM province of Maguindanao.
Core territory
The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front on October 15, 2012 signed a Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro stating that the status quo is unacceptable and that they would work for the creation of a new autonomous political entity called the Bangamoro to replace the ARMM.
The parties also agreed on the core territory of the Bangsamoro which would include among others, the present five province-two city-ARMM, Cotabato City as well as Isabela City in Basilan.
Quevedo, whose Archdiocese organized the two-day International Conference of Cotabato at the Notre Dame University in partnership with the Community of San’t Egidio and Muhammadiyah, was responding to a question raised by Cotabato City Vice Mayor Abdullah Andang during the first session on June 7, on what would happen to Cotabato City when the Bangsamoro is set up.
Andang said the city had voted twice against inclusion in the ARMM although they had been the seat of the regional autonomous governemtns. He said they are “supporting whatever is the decision of the people of Cotabato” but added, “we do not want the ARMM or Bangsamoro government to go to Marawi or any municipality. We want it here,” he said.
“Dead city”
For Quevedo, Cotabato City would benefit more if it remained the regional seat.
“Today, Cotabato City is part of Region 12.
It is not contiguous to Region 12. Economically, politically, it is a dead city. Without connection to the ARMM, it is dead. It has no port, it has no airport, no seaport.”
“I would like. in the next plebiscite, certainly the people of Cotabato will vote yes. Why? Because the demography has changed, from predominantly Christian, now it is predominantly Muslim and therefore it is a ‘yes’,” the Cardinal said.
