Congress, BARMM lawmakers discuss possible extension for amnesty application of ex-MILF, MNLF members

The Congress and the Bangsamoro Parliament discussed Tuesday the possible extension of application for amnesty of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members.

The deadline for application is in January 2023.

The amnesty provided under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation 1090 and 1091 concurred by both houses of Congress covers members of the MILF and the MNLF who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws “in furtherance of their political beliefs.”

In a statement Wednesday, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) said the amnesty was one of the topics during the Philippine Congress–Bangsamoro Parliament Forum convened for the first time since the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

The other legislative issues and concerns discussed were codes that need to be passed such as the Administrative Code, the Revenue Code, Electoral Code, Local Govenrment Code, and the Education Code; laws enacted to upgrade hospitals in the BARMM; qualification of Shari'ah circuit court judges; and future plans for the continued cooperation between the Philippine Congress and the Bangsamoro Parliament.

Senate President Miguel Zubiri expressed full support in “developing an effective and productive partnership” between the chamber and the Bangsamoro Parliament which will serve as a “concrete roadmap to inclusive and progressive legislation for the region.”

“BARMM is still in its growing stages and there remains a lot of work [to do] for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority which will form the foundation of the Bangsamoro government. To enable the smooth and efficient delivery of government services, [and] serve the people, we have to work hard on this particular Electoral Code because we don't think we can extend any longer the Transition Authority, the people would like to vote for the representatives and members they wanted to,’’ he added.

Section 3, Article 6 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law that created the BARMM mandates the establishment of the Philippine Congress–Bangsamoro Parliament Forum (PCBPF) to strengthen the cooperation and coordination of legislative initiatives between the national and Bangsamoro governments.

Also present during the meeting were Inter-Governmental Relations Body (IGRB) co-chairs Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and BARMM  Minister of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal; House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez; Senators Loren Legarda, Francis Tolentino, and Robinhood Padilla; BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrajim Al Haj, among others.

Pangandaman, for her part, assured enough government support for BARMM.

“The national budget was crafted in line with the President’s agenda for prosperity.This is why on our end, following the President's agenda for prosperity, we will do all that we can and endeavor to convince all the mechanisms to support the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and ensure the success of BARMM,” she said.

The proposed 2023 budget has earmarked a P64.8 billion budget for BARMM, while another P5 million was allocated for the region for its Special Development Fund (SDF.)

The SDF is for the rebuilding, rehabilitation, and development of the conflict-affected ethnic communities in the region,

These allocations are on top of the P4.6 billion worth of taxes and fees that the region stands to gain.

“We recognize that the efficient release of funds means more development projects to be implemented for the people and government of BARMM,” Pangandaman added.

Romualdez said such allocations should help BARMM realize its development goals.

“The allocation for BARMM is to ensure that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority will be able to deliver on its commitments,” he said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News