MANILA — Cordillera leaders got the assurance of support from more senators and Palace officials in their regional autonomy bid.
In a forum conducted in Manila on Friday, Senator Aquilino “Coco” Pimentel vowed to author a bill that would make Cordillera an autonomous region. He authored the same bill in 2015 but was overtaken by events.
Pimentel would be the fourth senator to file such bill at the Senate, after Senator Miguel Zubiri who filed Senate Bill 1678, Senator JV Ejercito with SB 1923, and another bill by Senator Bam Aquino.
Pimentel said with the recent signing of Bangsamoro Organic Law, now is the right time to push for the Cordillera autonomy.
“Its the best timing, mainit pa tayo, euphoric pa kami. Marami kaming natutunan doon [BOL] na maari natin gamitin. We still have a lot of happy hormones kaya ituloy natin (It is the perfect time while the issue is still hot and the senators are euphoric. We learned a lot from BOL, which we could use. We still have a lot of happy hormones, so let us pursue this),” Pimentel said.
He also urged the Cordillera leaders to prepare the support mechanism on the ground, for the people’s vote during the plebiscite.
Pimentel added the timing is right with President Rodrigue Duterte, a staunch believer of autonomy, at the helm.
Senator Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, in a video message sent to the Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC) and played during the event, also gave his support for a Cordillera autonomous status.
“We support the Cordillera autonomy, which is in our Constitution,” he said.
Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government, said his wife is also from Baguio.
Senator Ejercito, an adapted son of Kalinga and Mountain Province, said: “You have my full support for the preservation of our culture, heritage, and identify. I am one with you because I am a Cordilleran myself.”
Zubiri, the first senator to champion Cordillera’s clamor in the Upper Chamber, filed the first Senate version on Feb. 1, 2018. His version is an identical copy of House Bill (HB) 5343, “An act establishing the autonomous region of the Cordillera”, which was co-authored by all six congressmen of the region.
The North Star
Presidential Adviser for North Luzon Raul Lambino, an Ilocano who earned his degree in Baguio City, was also at the Saturday meeting with Cordillera leaders and senators in Manila.
“One of the most important tasks I have is to achieve the most cherished dream of the Cordillera,” he said.
Lambino suggested to tap Ilocano speakers in the Cabinet to help the cause of the highlanders.
“There are many Ilocanos in the Cabinet. We will come into a united front to convince the President to get that most important (priority bill) certification, so that these (autonomy) bills will have to be expedited in the House and the Senate,” Lambino said. “Let us always remember that we in the north, can consider ourselves as the navigators. They look upon the North Star as their guide. We should be the polaris for this country. Let this polaris start from the north.”
Autonomy advocate, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, who requested Zubiri to champion the Cordillera autonomy at the Senate early this year, was also at the meeting.
Dureza said Cordillera should have been the first to get the autonomy because it stayed on its commitment for peace after the Mount Data Peace accord with the government in 1986.
He lauded the two original signatories of the peace agreement–Leonardo Bun-as and Pedro Abacan, who are now in their 70s but took the time to be present in the occasion to ask for support. The two were with the late rebel priest Conrado Balweg, when the Cordillera army decided to lay down their arms and talk peace with the government using the Bodong system, an indigenous way of settling disputes.
Dureza urged the Cordillerans to continue working together, to be united towards the goal for autonomy, and to make a noise to get attention for their cause.
Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Secretary Adelino Sitoy, who did a comparison of the bills filed together with the draft Constitution submitted by the Consultative Commission (ConCom), said whichever comes first, the Cordillera’s clamor for autonomy is provided for under the 1987 Constitution and the proposed Constitution.
Baguio City Mayor and Cordillera RDC Chairman Mauricio Domogan said, “BOL has been signed into law. “This is in compliance with Section15, Article 10 of the 1987 Constitution. Number one reason why we should likewise pass Cordillera autonomy is to complete the process for our region to enhance its self determination and identity, recognition of our rights as people of the Cordillera. It would be a legacy and a big accomplishment of this administration if it would be able to complete the process of passing both autonomy for Mindanao and Cordillera.”
The Cordillera leaders are hastening their efforts to push for the region’s self-determination, as the BOL has been passed ahead. (Liza Agoot/PNA)
