Do the Bangsamoro people have the right to self-determination?
Yes, the Bangsamoro people have the right to self-determination. They qualify as people who hold the right to self-determination having common historical tradition, religious affinity and share many cultural practices. They occupy contiguous territory (in maritime societies the sea connects) with rich natural resources.
Before the arrival of the Spanish colonialists the Bangsamoro were already in the process of state formation, while Luzon and the Visayas were still in the barangay stage of political development. They had their own government with trade and diplomatic relations with other countries. The Bangsamoro had developed well-organized administrative and political systems; and strong maritime and infantry forces that defended the Bangsamoro territories from Western colonial intrusion, thus preserving the continuity of their independence.
During the American occupation the Bangsamoro homeland was administered separately from the Philippines. When the U.S. planned to grant independence to the Philippines, Bangsamoro leaders petitioned the U.S. Government that the Bangsamoro territories should not be included in the would-be Philippine Republic. Even when their territories were made part of the Philippine Republic in 1946, the Bangsamoro people continue to assert their right to independence
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) recognizes the Bangsamoro right to self-determination. The Tripoli Agreement of Peace of 2001 between the GRP and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) provides, The observance of international humanitarian law and respect for internationally recognized human rights instruments and the protection of evacuees and displaced persons in the conduct of their relations reinforce the Bangsamoro peoples fundamental right to determine their own future and political status.
Secretary Silvestre C. Afable, Jr., Chairman of the GPNP for Talks with the MILF, in his letter dated November 9, 2006 to Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel, said that the GRP would like to explore with the MILF in the next round of talks, the grant of self-determination and self-rule to the Bangsamoro people based on an Organic Charter to be drafted by representatives of the Bangsamoro people.
What is the fundamental nature of the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination?
The essence of the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination is the realization of their right to freely determine their political status vis--vis the Republic of the Philippines. The Bangsamoro people, whose territory was incorporated to the Philippine Republic without their plebiscitary consent, aspire to be free to determine their political status in a referendum where they can freely choose to have an independent state, or to be freely associated with the Philippines, or to retain the autonomous relationship with the central government, or to have consociational relationship with the Philippines. (davaotoday.com)
