Duterte to fly to Cotabato to push for Bangsamoro law ratification

January 15, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to campaign for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) by going to Cotabato City later this week.

A plebiscite will be held for the ratification of Republic  Act No. 11054, also known as the "Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim  Mindanao" on January 21 in ARMM, Cotabato City and  Isabela City.

On February 6 a plebiscite will be held in Lanao del Norte,  North Cotabato and other areas, which petitioned for the  BARMM inclusion.

Duterte will attend the "peace assembly" for BOL  ratification on January 18 at ARMM Office of the Regional Governor Compound in Cotabato City.

"The President's voice is a powerful influencing voice," said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Tuesday in a  regular press briefing of Duterte's attendance in the peace assembly.

The local government of Cotabato City led by Mayor  Frances Cynthia Sayadi has been opposing the inclusion  of the city in the BARMM.

Panelo said Duterte supports the ratification of the BOL as the President believes that this would solve the  decades-old problem in Mindanao.

"From the point of view of the President, the BOL will solve the age-old problem of the Muslim rebellion," he  said.

While Duterte is hopeful for the ratification of the BOL, Panelo assured that whatever would be the result of the  plebiscite, Duterte would respect it.

"If despite the support and the campaign, the overwhelming majority or even the slight majority say they rejected it, the President cannot do anything but to comply of the sovereign voice of the people in Mindanao," he added.

At the same time, Panelo said that Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. could be misinformed about the supposed lack of budget for the holding of the plebiscite for the BOL.

"His statement is misplaced and without basis. There are funds for the plebiscite," he said.

Andaya, in a privilege speech on Monday, said Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno failed to earmark funds for the plebiscite. Celerina Monte/DMS