Lanao del Sur town asks to be excluded from Bangsamoro political entity

COTABATO CITY — While most of Central Mindanao rejoiced at the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, a group of mostly Christian settlers in Wao town in Lanao del Sur province staged a rally Thursday morning to asked to be excluded from the Bangsamoro political entity.
 
In a telephone interview, Wao Mayor Elvino Balicao said around 7,000 residents, mostly Ilonggo settlers, flocked into town to call the attention of the national government and to ask to be excluded from the proposed Bangsamoro region.

The peace rally was staged even though it will take some time before the proposed Bangsamoro political entity will be subject to a plebiscite.

Balicao clarified the townspeople are not against the Bangsamoro and that they support the signing of the CAB.
 
“We are one with our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Bangsamoro, and since Wao town is [mostly] Christian settlers, we want them (Bangsamoro) to fully enjoy the creation of a new political entity according to their ways and traditions,” he said.
 
Balicao added: "I just want to appeal that if time comes for the plebescite, let the true voices of the people–or the result of the plebescite–come out.”
 

 
The group Lihok Wao initiated the rally.

Perla Inigo, the head coordinator, said they will hold more rallies until the President hears them.
 
“If the president has granted the aspirations of the Bangsamoro, then why not also hear our demand for a peaceful society [excluded from the] Bangsamoro?” she said.
 
The group released a signed manifesto that it hopes will reach Malacañang, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.

Issues

According to the manifesto, there was a lack of consultations. It said Christians are a minority in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, but make up a majority of the town, and that they had not been consulted in the peace process.

The group also said facilitators commissioned by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) came to Wao for consultations among the constituents in November 2013.

It said, though that the meeting was selective because only five Christian stakeholders were present. The rest of the people at the meeting were from the Muslim community there and did not represent the town, the group said.

The group also raised concerns that settlers might lose their land when the Bangsamoro political entity is created.

Based on the 2010 census, Wao town is 83-percent Christian and 17-percent Muslim. The town has 26 barangays, only 7 of which are predominantly Muslim.

The group said it is willing to meet with the BTC for more consultations. —Ferdinandh Cabrera/JDS, GMA News