MANILA - The Bangsamoro Basic Law gives due recognition to the Sultanates and royal houses. Bai Marieta Nor-aisha Mindalano Adam of the Maharadjah Tabunaway Descendants Council of the Philippines, one of the resource persons present at the Senate committee hearing on the draft BBL said last Monday, May 25.

In the position paper she presented at the hearing, Adam cited Article IX Sec. 19 of the original draft of the BBL, which deals with the preservation of Bangsamoro cultural heritage, saying that “this is a commendable provision in the BBL which gives recognition on the existence of Sultanates and Royal Houses in the proposed Bangsamoro.”

“There are other related provisions in the BBL which are substantially related to the historical and cultural…recognition of the existence of the Sultanates and Royal Houses, including indigenous peoples in the Bangsamoro,” Adam added.

Article IX Sec. 19 of the original draft provides for the creation of a Bangsamoro Commission “to preserve the history, culture, arts, tradition and the rich cultural heritage of the Sultanates, such as the Sultanates of Sulu, Maguindanao, and Buayan, and the Royal Houses of the Maranaos and the indigenous peoples of the Bangsamoro.” This was retained under Article VIII Sec. 19 of the draft approved by the House Ad Hoc Committee.

Datu Alexander Mama-o, speaking on behalf of Sultan Ali Manding of the Royal Sultanate of Bayang, also expressed support for the proposed law, saying that “the position of the Royal Sultanate of Bayang is a resounding yes for the passage of [the] BBL.”

Sulu Sultanate's issues

Meanwhile, the government peace panel said that they met several times with representatives of the Sulu Sultanate.

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“Two weeks ago [on May 17], other members of our panel, Secretary Yasmin Busran-Lao and former Agriculture Secretary Senen Bacani met with [Sulu Sultanate spokesman] Mr. Idjirani and…one of the relatives of the late Sultan Kiram III,” Panel chief Miriam Coronel-Ferrer related in a TV interview. “I was in Pigcawayan in another consultation at that time but I understand from what they said that they clarified many of the things that are in the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law).”

“For instance, they did point out that nothing in the BBL changes the name of the Sulu Sea. This is one misinformation that has been going around a lot in different fora. [There is] no change in the name of the Sulu Sea. Sulu Sea is still Sulu Sea,” Ferrer emphasized. In addition to this recent consultation, the chief negotiator also related that as early as 2011, she as member of the peace panel, which was then headed by now Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, met with the Sulu Sultanate regarding their concerns on the peace process, which was considered in the crafting of the peace agreements that was eventually translated to the BBL as its legal iteration.

“Way back in 2011, I personally met with the three brothers, the Kiram brothers, two of whom are unfortunately not anymore with us. They have died in recent years,” Ferrer recalled. “And one of the concrete agreements there was precisely to be able to recognize their customary role within their respective society.”

“[This] is not only with regard to the Sultanate of Sulu but also for the other royal houses, and you will find these provisions in the BBL—the matter of respect for customary practices, their specific role for instance in alternative dispute resolution which has been their historical role within their communities,” Ferrer explained.

“[The Sultanates and royal houses] are the social force in their respective community and that is why the BBL also recognizes their particular role within…the area of responsibility or the traditional sovereignty that they have over different areas of Mindanao,” Ferrer explained.

Several heads of sultanates and royal houses were recently invited to a Senate hearing and consultation by the Committee on Local Government, where they aired concerns and recommendations on the bill.

Article 6 Sec. 7 of the bill approved by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL provides for the creation of a Council of Leaders, which will “consist of the Chief Minister, provincial governors, mayors of chartered cities, one representative each from the Sultanates of Sulu, Maguindanao, and Lanao, and representatives from the non-Moro indigenous communities, women, settler communities, and other sectors,” and will serve to “advise the Chief Minister on matters of  governance in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.”

Another concern raised by the sultanates is in relation to the claim to Sabah, as the issue is not tackled in the BBL.

“That is definitely not within the purview of the peace negotiations. Even the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) agreement did not have anything to do with the Sabah claim, neither the 1976 Tripoli Agreement nor the 1996 Final Peace Agreement,” Ferrer pointed out.

“The agreement has to do with the institution of the autonomous government within certain territories and does not address the matter of the claim to Sabah, neither does it diminish it nor does it have any capacity to resolve the problem,” she added. -- PIA/OPAPP