Organization of Téduray and LambangianConference (OTLAC), Inc. S.E.C. REG. NO. DN2000-00436 North Upi, Maguindanao Email-add: teduray_lambangian@yahoo.com Mobile Number #: 09154548586
PRESS STATEMENT April 21, 2015 Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) Provisions on Indigenous Peoples Rights Recognized, Respects, Protects, and Fulfills Rights of an Indigenous Peoples in the Bangsamoro Core Territory. The Organization of Teduray and Lambangian Conference (OTLAC) representing the indigenous peoples, whose ancestral domains are within the proposed core territory of the Bangsamoro, declare our unequivocal support for the passage without amendments of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Our full support is based on the fact that after extensive consultation and discussion of the proposed Bill and its contents, we came to the conclusion that its provisions provides a wider avenue for political representation, protection of ancestral domains, and promotion of indigenous cultural identity. We are also supporting the passage of the BBL as part of our commitment to the historic pact between us and our Moro brothers which was signed by our forefathers Apo Rajah Mamalu and Apo Maharajah Tabunaway. Before pre-colonial times we have sworn to help each other and work together as one people different in belief but united by blood. Like the Moro we too were oppressed, and systematically marginalized by unjust land laws that gradually took away our lands and ancestral domains. This historical injustice is what the BBL addresses and it does so in a manner that provides indigenous peoples with a wider avenue for political representation, protection of ancestral domains, and promotion of indigenous cultural identity. In particular we would like to highlight the following provisions as milestones in ensuring respect, protection and fulfillment of Indigenous Peoples (IP) rights.
Article VII, Sec. 5.3 of the BBL, which provides for the election of sectoral representatives, constituting ten percent (10%) of the Members of Parliament, including two (2) reserved seats each for non-Moro indigenous communities and settler communities. Article IX which outlines the rights of indigenous peoples including the creation of a Tribal University that will safeguard the traditions and identity of the IP who are included within the Bangsamoro Inclusion of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as one of the core principles that defines the power and authority of the Bangsamoro Government.
Passing the BBL is not only the path to genuine peace. As IP’s in the Bangsamoro, we collectively advance our belief that BBL is the vehicle that will transport us to our destination of a place where our rights are duty recognized, respected and protected. For this, we express our full and unwavering support to the BBL. We would like also to underscore the fact that our decision to support the BBL and be included in the proposed Bangsamoro came about after a long and tedious process of consultations and debates both among ourselves and with our Moro brothers. Our stand on the BBL is a conscious and principled stand for peace and justice that would end the marginalization, and would put in place a system of governance that would respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of not only the Islamized natives of Mindanao but all the indigenous peoples inside the core territories of the proposed Bangsamoro. ##