COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 27 Aug) — A Marawi-based group staged a protest rally in Marawi City Tuesday to oppose the recently approved redistricting bill, saying it will “gravely endanger the peace process and the credibility of democratic governance.”
The protest themed “No to unjust redistricting: Uphold the people’s voice” was organized by the Real Autonomy Now (RANow) Movement launched a rally against the recently approved Parliament Bill No. 351, now known as the Redistricting Act of 2025.
Alim Nasif Marangit, president of the Real Autonomy Now (RANow) Movement, said they are urging BARMM Chief Minister Macacua to veto the law, even though Macacua has issued a certificate of urgency to pass the bill, prompting the swift approval of the measure.
“Our general appeal to him is to respect and implement what was agreed upon—what is contained within the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the BOL [Bangsamoro Organic Law],” Marangit said in an interview streamed live by Kutangbato News.
Member of Parliament Abdullah Macapaar, also known as Commander Bravo, addressed the crowd at the rally saying, “To our leaders in the [Bangsamoro Transition Authority], to the Chief Minister, do not allow the programs of politicians to prevail. Their only ambition is to form family alliances, but our goal in the [Moro Islamic Liberation Front] is unity.”
PB 351 will amend the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 58 and will distribute the seven parliamentary district seats originally apportioned to Sulu following a Supreme Court ruling excluding the province from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The parliamentary districts will be distributed with nine for Lanao del Sur, five each for Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, four each for Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, three for Cotabato City, and two for the Special Geographic Area.
RANow’s statement asserted that the bill “undermines not only democratic representation but also the hard-earned gains of the peace process,” urging community members to “safeguard what we have achieved and ensure that genuine peace, justice, and self-determination are not compromised.”
During the event, protestors burned standees of Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, and Anton Lagdameo, Special Assistant to the President.
Galvez, Lagdameo and Macacua have not yet issued statements regarding the protesters’ grievances.
But earlier, Galvez has expressed his willingness to engage in an “open and sincere dialogue” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). He said he believes that dialogue is the “best way forward” to address differences and uphold the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)
