Proposal seeks to split Muslim autonomous region into two

Manila: House of Representatives member Gloria Arroyo has filed a proposal seeking to split the present Muslim autonomous region into two. 

The former president likewise wants a plebiscite conducted this October to determine which villages want to be included in the proposed region.

Arroyo and her son, Representative Diosdado Arroyo, sought the creation of two autonomous groupings in House Bill 173. They cited the peculiarities of different ethnic groups within the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

A similar proposal, HB 143, was filed by Tawi-Tawi Representatives Nur Jaafar.

Arroyo, a Catholic who grew up in Mindanao, said splitting the present five-province ARMM into two separate autonomous regions would make it easier for authorities to address governance concerns including peace and order.

The ARMM is presently made up of the provinces of Sulu, Basilan Tawi-Tawi Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao, as well as the city of Marawi City.

Under the Arroyos’ proposal, an Autonomous Region in Southwestern Mindanao (ARSWM) and Autonomous Region in Central Mindanao (ARCM) would be established to replace the ARMM.

The ARMM was created in August 1989 to embody the desire of certain Muslim leaders to have a distinct governance body where then freely practice their faith and cultural peculiarities. It was expanded in 2001.

The Arroyos said that Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, under the laws which created the ARMM region, were distinct from other areas. “Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao are landlocked by areas inhabited by other indigenous and ethnic groups," they said.

In comparison, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu were island provinces.

The Arroyos proposed that the new ARCM included the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani and cities of Cotabato, Marawi, Iligan, Kidapawan, General Santos, Koronadal, and Tacurong

The new ARSWM on the other hand, would include the islands of Sulu, Basilan and Tawi Tawi as well as the provinces in the Zamboanga peninsula such as  Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga Sibugay. It would also include the cities of Isabela, Pagadian, Dipolog, Dapitan and Zamboanga.

To determine which villages would be included in the proposed new autonomous region groupings, the Arroyos proposed that a vote be conducted alongside with the scheduled October grassroots elections.

This early however, the proposals from Arroyo and Jaafar are expected to not be well received in the Christian-dominated areas in the Zamboanga peninsula.

Zamboanga Representative Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said that she and Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat were discussing the possibility of filing a formal motion of opposition to the Arroyo-Jaafar proposal.