COTABATO CITY, March
8 (PNA) -- Tribal peoples in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
are asking for recognition and respect of their rights and distinct identity
from the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.
Spearheaded by the
Basic Rights and Social Justice Committee and the Committed on Justice and
Security of the BTC, the consultation was conducted to hear issues and concerns
of various stakeholders on the proposed Bangsamoro government.
This after more than
200 indigenous peoples community leaders in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao
del Sur, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat gathered in Upi, Maguindanao Friday
for consultations conducted by BTC.
The government and
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are expected to sign within the month
the Comprehensive Agreement that will hopefully end the decades-old Mindanao
Moro issue and attain genuine peace on the island.
"The message of
the IPs was loud and clear, the indigenous peoples to be covered within the
Bangsamoro core territory are asking recognition from the Commission,"
said BTC Commissioner Froilyn Tenorio-Mendoza, herself an IP member of the
commission.
She told reporters
that the issue of identity and ancestral domain "is a big elephant in the
room that the commission had yet to fully see."
Following the signing
of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement (FAB) in October last year, the Teduday,
Lambangian and Dulangan Manobo tribes residing in the proposed Bangsamoro
territory have repeatedly expressed concern over their fate in the new
political territory.
Specifically, they
expressed concern over the FAB impact on its distinct people, their ancestral
domain and their right to self-determination as well.
For decades now, the
non-Moro people of Mindanao have called themselves "Tribal Peoples"
to differentiate and distinguish them from their Moro brothers and sisters.
Mendoza assured the
agreement both the government and the MILF are to sign is definitely inclusive
to all regardless of faith, religion, political affiliation and tradition.
She said the demand
of the indigenous peoples have been discussed comprehensively during the course
of the 17-year-old peace negotiation between the government and the MILF. (PNA)
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