NEWS




14September
Photo courtesy, https://parliament.bangsamoro.gov.ph/

DS Alamia: "Sulu's Exclusion is a Deep Cut, but We Will Bridge the Gap"

COTABATO CITY – Deputy Speaker Laisa Masuhud Alamia of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament and a native of Sulu, has issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision upholding the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) while excluding Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Alamia acknowledged the significance of the Supreme Court's decision, stating that the BOL represents the culmination of decades of negotiations and centuries of struggle for the Bangsamoro people's right to self-determination.  However, she expressed deep concern about the exclusion of Sulu, calling it a "severance that cuts deep."
 
"While the BARMM Regional Government has assured the people of Sulu that there will be no abrupt disruption of government services, we must address the most immediate concerns with urgency," Alamia said.  

"The Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) and its mechanisms need to convene to iron out areas of jurisdiction and facilitate efficient coordination between the national government, the BARMM Regional Government, and the Provincial Government of Sulu," stressed Alamia.
 
Alamia emphasized the importance of a smooth transition period to ensure the continued delivery of basic social services, the implementation of programs and projects, and the protection of the rights and freedoms of the people of Sulu.
 
"We hope that the Bangsamoro region and the province of Sulu can continue to maintain economic and cultural ties," Alamia said. 

She said, "Our shared history and heritage transcend legislation.  The people of Sulu have always been at the forefront of the Bangsamoro struggle, and we pledge to continue honoring our ancestors as we respond to the needs of every Bangsamoro."
 
Alamia highlighted the necessity of listening to the people and continuing to serve and support the communities of Sulu, emphasizing the strong sense of identity and justice that unites the Bangsamoro people.