A comparison of the territories to be allotted to the Filipino Muslims’ autonomous region—as contained in past agreements and present “Framework Agreement”—will show that the territory in the new agreement is smaller than ones mentioned in the old ones.

The Bangsamoro region proposed to replace and enlarge the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by 2016 is smaller than territory described in the government agreements in Tripoli in 1976 and the Final Peace Agreement between the government ofPresident Fiel Ramos in 1996, both with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

The Bangsamoro territory in the “Framework Agreement” to be signed tomorrow is also much smaller than the one envisoned in the nullified Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) of 2008.

Section V. Territory of the “Framework Agreement” states in full:
“V. TERRITORY

“1. The core territory of the Bangsamoro shall be composed of:
(a) the present geographical area of the ARMM; (b) the Municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal in the province of Lanao del Norte and all other barangays in the Municipalities of Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigkawayan, Pikit, and Midsayap that voted for inclusion in the ARMM during the 2001 plebiscite; (c) the cities of Cotabato and Isabela; and (d) all other contiguous areas where there is a resolution of the local government unit or a petition of at least ten percent (10%) of the qualified voters in the area asking for their inclusion at least two months prior to the conduct of the ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the process of delimitation of the Bangsamoro as mentioned in the next paragraph.

“2. The Parties shall work together in order to ensure the widest acceptability of the Bangsamoro Basic Law as drafted by the Transitory Commission and the core areas mentioned in the previous paragraph, through a process of popular ratification among all the Bangsamoro within the areas for their adoption. An international third party monitoring team shall be present to ensure that the process is free, fair, credible, legitimate and in conformity with international standards.

“3. Areas which are contiguous and outside the core territory where there are substantial populations of the Bangsamoro may opt anytime to be part of the territory upon petition of at least ten percent (10%) of the residents and approved by a majority of qualified voters in aplebiscite.

“4. The disposition of internal and territorial waters shall be referred to in the Annexes on Wealth and Power Sharing.

“5. Territory refers to the land mass as well as the maritime, terrestrial, fluvial and alluvial domains, and the aerial domain and the atmospheric space above it. Governance shall be as agreed upon by the parties in this agreement and in the sections on wealth and power sharing.

“6. The Bangsamoro Basic Law shall recognize the collective democratic rights of the constituents in the Bangsamoro.”

One problem is that of Mayor Cherrylyn Santos Akbar of Isabela City.

She has, along with Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City and Mayor CherryLyn Santos Akbar of Isabela City, questioned the provision in the “framework agreement” that threatens to force mixed-Muslim-Christian areas into becoming part of the Bangsamoro homeland if at least ten percent (10%) of the residents petition to be included in the Bangsamoro region and the move is approved by a majority of qualified voters in a plebiscite.

Another problem is that her locality, Isabela City, is included in the Bagsamoro core territory.

There will be problem to non-Muslim Filipinos of the list of basic human rights to be enjoyed by the people in the Bangamoro region.

These are:

“VI. BASIC RIGHTS

1. In addition to basic rights already enjoyed, the following rights of all citizens residing in the Bangsamoro bind the legislature, executive and judiciary as directly enforceable law and are guaranteed:

a. Right to life and to inviolability of one’s person and dignity;

b. Right to freedom and expression of religion and beliefs;

c. Right to privacy;

d. Right to freedom of speech;

e. Right to express political opinion and pursue democratically political aspiration;

f. Right to seek constitutional change by peaceful and legitimate means;

g. Right of women to meaningful political participation, and protection from all forms of violence;

h. Right to freely choose one’s place of residence and the inviolability of the home;

i. Right to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in social and economic activity and thepublic service, regardless of class, creed, disability, gender and ethnicity;

j. Right to establish cultural and religious associations;

k. Right to freedom from religious, ethnic and sectarian harassment; and

l. Right to redress of grievances and due process of law.

2. Vested property rights shall be recognized and respected. With respect to the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people arising from any unjust dispossession of their territorial and proprietary rights, customary land tenure or their marginalization shall be acknowledged.

Whenever restoration is no longer possible, the Central Government and the Government of the Bangsamoro shall take effective measures for adequate reparation collectively beneficial to the Bangsamoro people in such quality, quantity and status to be determined mutually.

3. Indigenous peoples’ rights shall be respected.

4. The Central Government shall ensure the protection of the rights of the Bangsamoro people residing outside the territory of the Bangsamoro and undertake programs for the rehabilitation and development of their communities. The Bangsamoro Government may provide assistance to their communities to enhance their economic, social and cultural development.”

Non-Muslim Filipinos in Pasay, Quiapo in Manila and Bicutan should welcome the attention the Bagsamoro government would be giving to Filipino Muslims.