Rep. catamco's proposal for IPs in the BBL rejected
BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES • 15:19 PM Tue May 19, 2015
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By:
Edwin Fernandez
(Image grab from institute for autonomy and governance)
QUEZON CITY – North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco was
sad and frustrated her proposed amendments to the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL)was ignored and rejected during the first day of scheduled-three-day committee
level voting at the House of Representatives Monday.
It was so frustrating, tired, we have 48 public
hearings, plus more sessions in the House, Indigenous Peoples leaders came
over, we have sleepless nights in our efforts so our amendments are included,
but we were denied,” Catamco told NDBC's Malu Cadelina Manarin an interview after the
voting adjourned at 7 p.m.
The votes, 19 yes” and 34 no, Catamco’s proposal
was defeated. She cried and visibly
frustrated.
There were other drafts, the chairman’s and vice
chairmen’s drafts were used during the voting,” she stressed.
Catamco raised her proposal during the May 11 House
AdHoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Her proposal readsand Our proposed amendment to
Section 2 of Article II provides a definition of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples to
establish clearly and unambiguously their ethnic identity. This definition also
recognizes their diverse identities and distinct cultures, traditions and
histories.”
Catamco addedand The responsibility over indigenous
people’s protection and promotion of rights is explicitly mandated by the
Constitution and should be the primary responsibility of the National
Government. In the BBL, this Representation is recommending that the primary
responsibility of the National Government over indigenous peoples be
maintained, but concedes that for administration purposes, this responsibility
would be exercised by the Ministry for Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples, to ensure
that the State policies (existing or to be proposed) for indigenous peoples
would be faithfully implemented.”
While Catamco’s proposal to include the definition
of non-Moro IPs in the draft was denied, the AdHoc committee approved the
inclusion of non-Moro indigenous peoples in the Preamble.
Since then, Catamco refused to vote for the rest of the provisions and remained quiet on her chair.Catamco also said she did not attend the special
meeting called for by House leaders in Malacanang where the new version of the
draft was believed crafted.