Nat’l, Bangsamoro gov’ts agree on operational continuity in Sulu

The national government and the Bangsamoro government have agreed for operational continuity in Sulu, despite a prevailing Supreme Court ruling excluding the southern Philippine province from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

In a statement, the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) said both the national and Bangsamoro governments resolved, in its 20th meeting on October 11, “to ensure uninterrupted government operations in Sulu as the Supreme Court deliberates on the province's exclusion from the BARMM.”

Early this month, the Bangsamoro government filed its motion for leave to intervene to be a party to the case and to admit the attached motion for partial reconsideration to re-include Sulu in the autonomous region. 

The High Court, in a unanimous decision dated September 9, 2024, upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), but declared Sulu as not part of the region, citing the province’s rejection of the BOL during the 2019 plebiscite.

The IGRB, composed of representatives from the national and Bangsamoro governments, agreed on operational continuity in Sulu as it awaits the Supreme Court’s final decision on the matter. 

The BOL, enacted on July 27, 2018, is the legal framework establishing BARMM’s governance and political structure.

In 2018, Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II questioned before the SC the legality of the BOL, arguing that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) cannot be abolished without amending the 1987 Constitution.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, IGRB co-chairperson for the national government, affirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining services in Sulu amidst the transition. 

“The national government will exert all efforts to ensure a smooth transition, taking a whole-of-government approach to continuously deliver essential services in the region,” said Pangandaman. 

BARMM Education Minister and IGRB co-chairperson Mohagher Iqbal called for a unified effort to safeguard the interests of Sulu’s residents. 

“As we await the final resolution of the judicial process, it is essential that we adopt a collective approach to protect the rights, aspirations, and well-being of the people of Sulu,” Iqbal said, noting potential challenges, such as the payment of salaries for teaching and non-teaching staff, asset management, and other operational matters. 

The IGRB said the national and Bangsamoro governments agreed to form a Technical Working Group (TWG) tasked with developing guidelines to ensure minimal disruption to essential services. 

The TWG will also provide recommendations on maintaining operational continuity in Sulu.

Additionally, the IGRB said it resolved to coordinate with the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) for the issuance of a written directive to the affected offices of the Bangsamoro government, national government, and local government unit (LGU) to ensure continued operations of governmental matters in Sulu.

—Ted Cordero/ VAL, GMA Integrated News