Año backs MILG: “Cotabato City is now officially part of BARMM”

COTABATO CITY – Secretary of Interior and Local Government (SILG) Eduardo Año told the press Tuesday, December 15, that Cotabato City is now officially under the supervision of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

He reiterated it was clearly stated in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that Cotabato City, which is an independent city, is now officially under the supervision of the regional government. This includes programs and projects, documents, properties and assets, and movable properties and records of the DILG Cotabato field office, including that of 63 barangays. 

“Ang tinutukoy natin dito ay buong Cotabato City [...] Ang ating Cotabato City ngayon ay ganap nang kasapi ng BARMM,” Año stressed.

Año also answered the issue on the petition filed by Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, saying, "nirerespeto natin ang petition na finile niya sa Supreme Court, pero that does not stop the operation of the law.”

“The law has been ratified and it has to be implemented. Hindi naman nagbigay ng decision ang Supreme Court kaya hindi natin pwedeng sawayin ang batas, dahil si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na ang nagsabi na let's implement the law,” he added.

Meanwhile, Año also clarified that employment in the city will remain intact even it is already under the supervision of the regional government.

Año said not a single person will lose his/her job, following the city’s official turnover to BARMM on December 15.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang paglilingkod ng Cotabato City under the BARMM,” he added.

He also confirmed that there are plantilla positions for the employees of city in DILG office.

"Mayroong na-create na plantilla positions na nasa kapangyarihan na ni Atty. Sinarimbo ang pagfill-in doon, at mayroon din tayong kasamahan sa DILG na piniling sumama sa BARMM," Año said.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim supported Año’s statement and assured that the city employees will continue serving the City Government.

"Ang sa atin lang ay supervision [...] ‘yung mga employees ay magtatrabaho pa din, walang mawawalan ng trabaho," Ebrahim said.

In the end, Año affirmed to strengthen its guidance and coordination with the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG-BARMM) even after Cotabato City has been turned over to the Bangsamoro Government.

“Hindi ibig sabihin na nagtatapos na ang ugnayan ng Cotabato City sa DILG-National Government, sapagkat kami ay nakaalalay at patuloy na tutulong dahil ito ay kasama sa transition,” Año said. (BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)