SOCCSKSARGEN leaders oppose inclusion in ARMM territorial
extension and federal government system
GENERAL SANTOS CITY: Top government leaders of the SOCCSKSARGEN growth area in Central Mindanao disclosed strong opposition to the proposed territorial extension of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), including the bid for a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front amid tensions brought about by sporadic fighting between government troops and the Muslim separatists group in the adjacent province of North Cotabato.
South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani (SOCCSKSARGEN) governors Daisy Avance-Fuentes; Miguel Dominguez and Suharto Mangudadatu have joined hands in opposing the inclusion of their provinces to the proposed BJE by Bangsamoro fighters.
“This forcible action is a bitter pill for Mindanaoans to swallow. This only serves as an emblem of the national government’s distrust not only for its local leaders, but likewise for our people, regardless of faith and religion. This was even stressed without proper consultation. So I suggest for government to open its Pandora’s box and let us understand,” said Governor Dominguez of Sarangani, who is a close ally of the Arroyo administration during the 2004 elections.
Dominguez also lashed at President Gloria Arroyo’s proposal for the realignment of the country’s democratic form of government to federal system. “Charter change is nothing but a mere paper resolution that is far from what is really happening here in the ground level,” he said.
Dominguez and Fuentes said any hidden agenda that lies behind the Cha cha and BJE proposals would not only break Mindanaoans trust for the administration, but likewise affect and taint the trust of our constituents for the administration.
“What we have left is nothing but the confidence on us by our local government officials [mayors] and our constituents. So we will never dance the Cha-cha that would certainly break their reliance on us. We will remain in maintaining our own objective rather than support the proposed changes in our Constitution,” Dominguez said.
Fuentes said both the federal government and BJE proposals need expensive renovations in the infrastructure of government. It would need a new assembly or a Congress for every state, including those in the judiciary system and the local police force.
Fuentes said structuring the BJE in Mindanao is not a sure guarantee for Mindanaoans to attain lasting peace, but would only trigger MILF’s desire to totally invade the entire island for a separate Moro Islamic State in the country.
“I believe there are some hidden agendas in the expanded ARMM campaign of the MILF. This might be the first part. The second phase may shall go off after 25 years, with another suggestion to occupy the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato including Geneneral Santos City,” said Fuentes, adding that she believes that the real target of the Moro rebels is not only to form the BJE, but to take hold of entire Mindanao in the future.”
Meanwhile, another political ally of the Arroyo administration also junked the proposed inclusion of Sultan Kudarat to the BJE and ARMM.
In an earlier interview, Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu said that an ARMM-based local government should have to show first the people of Sultan Kudarat, essential factors in terms of progress and development before they could be persuaded to accept the proposal.
