Editorial

Let democracy work in BOL ratification

Residents in the component provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other territorial inclusions will have another historic political move as they will ratify on January 21 the Bangsamoro Organic Law, formerly the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, that will establish the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to replace the ARMM.

        The BOL is a product of the long peace negotiations between and among the government, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and other stakeholders to sustain the peace efforts in south of Mindanao and put the new political entity into development path after battered for so many years by war and conflict that resulted to dislocations and loss of lives, divisiveness, unrest, destruction, and worsening poverty. 

        President Rodrigo Duterte himself supports the BOL and advocates would want to include Cotabato City, being a crown jewel, as part of the Bangsamoro region. The city, seat of the current ARMM, is home to many services and utilities such as commerce, banking and finance, and high level education. But the city political leadership is nil on the BOL as it campaigns for non-inclusion. The people, however,  have the final say come plebiscite day and then on February 6 in other inclusion areas.

        The city is already beefed up with security forces come plebiscite day to ensure and safeguard the holding of the historic political exercise. There is surety that the present ARMM landscape would be maintained under the BARMM should the BOL be ratified. The plebiscite will certainly be a tight contest in Cotabato City and Isabela City in Basilan.

        It is likely that Cotabato City will be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections following the December 31, 2018 bombing at the façade of South Seas mall that killed two and injured scores of innocent civilians at the scene of terror attack which some sectors link to the BOL plebiscite, thus, creating fear and anxieties among residents as they prepare for the voting.

        There is call for democracy to work during the political exercise, one that is free from harassment, intimidation, and coercion. Though intense is the BOL campaign in the city, let the people make their free choice --- to be included or not in the BARMM. As in election period, let the people be free in their choice(s) and let the outcome take its course.

        Though the BOL campaign has created a divide among constituents like in national and local government elections, nevertheless let free democracy prevail in the BOL ratification. Altogether we make another history in our homeland come plebiscite day.