ARMM law may be amended to ensure success of peace talks, says House Speaker

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Prospero Nograles said there could be a need to amend the existing Organic Act of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao or create an entirely new law on Muslim Mindanao to ensure the success of the ongoing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Nograles said there could also be a need to sync the existing ARMM Organic Act with the conditions provided under an era of permanent peace between the government and the MILF.

“In view of the ongoing peace-talk between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and of the various proposals on Muslim Mindanao, such as the bill filed by Congressman Jaafar, I will get the House of Representatives to start working on a possible amendment of the Organic Act for Autonomous Muslim Mindanao or for the crafting of an entirely new law on Muslim Mindanao,” Nograles said.

“We might need to tune-up the existing ARMM Organic Act or craft a new law for Muslim Mindanao so that it can also deal with the distinct problems pertaining to the MILF. This enhanced or new law will take into consideration the framework and the eventual agreements of the ongoing peace-talk between the government and the MILF. It will also take as inputs the results of consultations on the matter that the House shall undertake,” he added.

At present, Nograles said there is a pending measure - House Bill 1769 - which seeks to amend the ARMM Organic Act and this can be expanded further to address all other concerns that may arise out of the peace talks.

House Bill 1769 which was authored by Tawi-tawi Representaive Nur Jaafar seeks to amend the ARMM Organic Act to decentralize the system of appointments for teachers and other officers and employees of the ARMM bureaucracy.

Jaafar said that the present system which solely delegates the appointing power to the ARMM Governor has been causing too much bottleneck in the issuance of appointments and delayed salaries for teachers and lower ranking officers and employees of the ARMM.

Under HB 1769, appointment of low-ranking officers shall be vested upon the heads of the departments, agencies and commissions or boards concerned. The appointments of teachers shall be delegate to their respective school division superintendents.

According to Nograles, the Jaafar's proposed amendment to the ARMM Organic Act can be expanded to accommodate reasonable terms that can be the result of the ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.(Gil Bugaoisan)