Enlightenment of Congress on BBL, prayed for in a ritual

QUEZON CITY – Things are
not black, nor white. One cannot simply be pro-BBL or anti-BBL. Issues in the
proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) are far more complex to be taken like
this.”

Timuay Alim Bandara, a
Teduray leader, isued this statement as a House committee was supposed to vote for the passage or rejection of BBL Monday.He saidthere are a lot of serious issues and concerns raised
by the indigenous peoples in Mindanao on the content of the BBL, particularly
their identity and territory as non-Moro Indigenous Peoples. We have consistently
and persistently articulated these, to the Peace Panel then, and now in the
Congress. The panel has failed us. Now, we hope the Congress will be
enlightened to hear our voices, and pass a BBL that is truly inclusive, and
just. We call for the full recognition and articulation of the indigenous
peoples’ rights in the BBL,” he said.

Timuay Bandara is one of the
leaders who participated in a ritual to seek enlightenment for Congress as it
resumes its deliberation on the proposed BBL. Tulak Bungkas Itungan, a ritual for enlightenment, was performed in
front of the Batasang Pambansa by indigenous women and men, with Teduray flags,
gongs, and chants. This was done a day before Congress deliberations resume on
Monday.

Dapat pantay na
pagbalangkasng batas, hindi maging tagapag-api
ng mamayang minorya,” ( What should be drafted and passed is a fair and just
law not a law that would discriminate against the minority population.”) said
Abay Rendaw Mosela, a Teduray Kemamal
Keadan or Supreme Spiritual Leader who led the ritual. We hope that the
spirits will open and bless the minds and hearts of the members of the Congress
as they deliberate the draft BBL.” Mosela added.

The indigenous peoples (IPs)
are pushing that their identity as non-Moro indigenous peoples be recognized in
the BBL. Non-Moro IPs are IPs who have not collectively (as a tribe) nor
individually ascribed themselves as Bangsamoro. They assert that the unique identity of
non-Moro IPs and all their rights arising from such identity should be
respected at all times and under all conditions by the Bangsamoro Government,
and this should be clearly articulated in the proposed BBL.

Ang Batas ay
para sa lahat hindi sa iilan lamang, at wala itong pinipilimahirap
man oh mayaman, pantay na pagtingin sa karapatan ng taopara
sa tutuong Kapayapaan,” said Jennevive Cornelio. ( The law is for everyone, and not just for some, and that it does not
choose to work for the poor, or the rich alone there should be an equal
treatment of the rights of the people. Then there can be peace),”said Jennevive CornelioCornelio is one of the Teduray women leaders who
played the gong during the ritual.

The ritual was
attended and supported by IP rights and human rights advocates including
Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MMPM), Legal Rights and Natural Resources
Center (LRC), LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights), Focus on the
Global South, and Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM).