By Dominic I. Sanchez versatility
ZAMBOANGA CITY - Zamboanga City first district Representative Celso L. Lobregat emphasized that there are certain issues in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that need to be scrutinized and made known to the public prior to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in Congress.
Lobregat, who was invited to speak on his position on the Bangsamoro agreement during the city council’s regular session yesterday (July 1), emphasized several issues including the assertion that “there is no provision affirming or recognizing the Philippine Constitution.”
“However, there is a provision specifically in Part 7 that states the function of the [Bangsamoro] Transition Commission… to work on proposals to amend the constitution for the purpose of accommodating and entrenching in the Constitution the agreements of the parties,” Lobregat pointed out. “It is the reverse – instead of the agreement being within the realm of the Constitution, baliscat (it is the other way around).”
Lobregat furthered that the twelve documents comprising the CAB “have no references to the Tripoli Agreement of 1976, the Constitution of 1987 and the Final Peace Agreement with the MNLF of 1996.”
Furthermore, he stressed the presence of the “opt-in anytime” provision, which in essence means that a municipality or province may vote itself to be included in the Bangsamoro. “This will cause chaos and instability. It may cause a never-ending expansion of the Bangsamoro.”
Another issue that Lobregat presented is the “preferential rights” to be given to Bangsamoro people, particularly over fishery, aquamarine and other living resources in the Bangsamoro waters. “What about the equal protection clause?” he remarked.
However, in spite of the issues that he enumerated, Lobregat recognized the efforts of the national government in working out a solution to attain lasting peace in Mindanao.
“I thank President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for the sincere efforts in trying to finalize the peace agreement and implement it within his term. Indeed he is going the extra mile in pursuit of peace and justice in entire Mindanao,” said Lobregat.
He added: “We are for long and lasting peace, and we want the CAB to be acceptable, feasible and consistent with the constitution and existing laws. But it is very important that our constituents be intelligibly informed on the issues involved.”
Meanwhile, the members of the City Council have reaffirmed the City’s stance against being included in the Bangsamoro.
Invited to hear Lobregat’s manifestation were local and national government agencies, heads of offices, the police and military, the business and religious sector, academe, and other local stakeholders.
Local officials from neighboring Isabela City were also present.