Cotabato City – Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Deputy Speaker Laisa Masuhud Alamia has strongly criticized the Supreme Court's decision to exclude Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), arguing that it disrupts peace and development efforts and undermines the region's historical and cultural unity.

In a motion for partial reconsideration filed on Thursday, October 17, Alamia stated that Sulu has always been an integral part of the Bangsamoro, and its exclusion creates a "hairline crack" in the BARMM framework. She highlighted that the decision affects the implementation of peace agreements, particularly those related to revenue generation, wealth sharing, regional territories, and power sharing.

 

Alamia emphasized that Sulu's strategic location and historical significance within the Bangsamoro struggle make its exclusion deeply problematic. She pointed out that the region's establishment, first as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and then as the BARMM, was heavily influenced by the leadership of Sulu revolutionaries.

 

The Deputy Speaker argued that the Supreme Court's decision disrupts the ongoing "healing and recovery" process facilitated by the BARMM, particularly for Sulu, which has suffered from decades of armed conflict. Excluding Sulu from the region would deprive its people of the benefits of peace agreements and the expanded autonomy granted to the BARMM.

 

Alamia also challenged the interpretation of the 2019 plebiscite results, stating that Sulu's vote was not a call for exclusion but rather a vote for the retention of the ARMM. She further argued that the Supreme Court's decision creates a legal and administrative incongruity, leaving Sulu in a precarious position.

She highlighted the significant role played by Sulu representatives in the BARMM Parliament and the vital services the regional government has been providing to the province. 

 

"It is our hope that we can continue to work on building just and lasting peace for our people, including our constituents in Sulu. Otherwise, we might end up being forced apart despite our desire to uplift every Bangsamoro as our people intended when we struggled together for our right to self-determination," Alamia concluded.