COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has started Monday the series of panel consultations for the proposed Bangsamoro Civil Service Code (BCSC) or the BTA-Cabinet Bill No. 59.

The panel, constituted by the BTA’s Committee on Rules (COR), will conduct the consultation until November 11 at the BTA’s extension office in De Mazenod Avenue, Cotabato City.

The panel is chaired by Member of Parliament (MP) Atty. Raissa Jajurie, with MP Engr. Aida Silongan as vice-chair. Members include MPs Ziaur-Rahman Adiong, Eddie Alih, Suharto Ambolodto, Baintan Ampatuan, Susana Anayatin, Anna Tarhata Basman, Musa Diamla, Maisara Latiph, Jose Lorena, Jamel Macaraya, Khadafeh Mangudadatu, Amilbahar Mawallil, Rasul Mitmug, Ubaida Pacasem, Diamila Ramos, Romeo Saliga, Omar Yasser Sema, Romeo Sema, Paisalin Tago, Nabil Tan, and Adzfar Usman, with ex officio members such as Parliament Speaker Ali Balindong, Deputy Speaker Hatimil Hassan, Majority Floor Leader Lanang Ali, Jr., and Minority Leader Laisa Alamia.

“The panel is here to gather comments, position papers, and issues on the code that will come from our resource persons, and we will present it to the Committee on Rules for deliberation,” Jajurie said.

Resource persons include representatives from the Civil Service Commission national and BARMM offices, Department of Budget and Management, People Management Association of the Philippines, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; members of the leagues of mayors, vice-mayors, and councilors; regional and provincial human resource management officers; and sectoral representatives (regional and provincial heads).

The BCSC is one of the priority legislations the parliament needs to pass within the transition period. It was filed in the plenary on July 21 this year, and was referred to the COR July 23.

MP Silongan, who is also the chair of the cabinet committee tasked to craft the BCSC, said the code is a product of dialogues with experts, and consultations and public hearings with various stakeholders in the BARMM’s five provinces, including North Cotabato areas.

“BCSC hopes to provide an effective instrument for good governance and responsive policies on human resource administration of the Bangsamoro Government while addressing the legitimate needs and peculiarities of our people,” Silongan said.

The code also seeks to “provide a favorable policy environment that would give opportunities to qualified mujahideen to be considered for employment by the Bangsamoro Government during the transition period.”

“It is hoped that the BCSC will pave the way for the professionalization and institutionalization of the whole bureaucracy of the Bangsamoro Government,” Silongan said. (Bureau of Public Information)

*Originally published by the Bangsamoro Information Office (https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/news/latest-news/bta-starts-panel-consultation-for-bangsamoro-civil-service-code/)

Cotabato City (September 17, 2020)—The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) is urging the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to fast track the investigation regarding the massacre of nine (9) civilians in Kabacan, Cotabato Province via a resolution approved on Thursday, September 17.

The Proposed Resolution No. 302 strongly condemns the massacre of nine (9) civilians in Kabacan, Cotabato Province, that occurred on August 29, 2020 around noon time near the University of Southern Mindanao (USM).

“The BTA needs to have a stand regarding the massacre in Kabacan,” Member of Parliament (MP) Atty. Paisalin Tago, the principal author of the resolution, said.

The said resolution also respectfully urges the PNP, NBI, and CHR to fast track the investigation as well as bring the perpetrators to justice, as proposed by MP Jose Lorena.

MP Deputy Speaker Hatimil Hassan, Atty. Nabil Tan, Alim Ali, Eduardo Guerra, Mohammad Yacob, Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan, Atty. Jose Lorena, Abraham Burahan, Abdullah Hashim, Dr. Marjanie Macasalong, Alim Shiek, Suharto Ambolodto, and Atty. Ubaida Pacasem co-authored the said resolution.

Atty. Maisara Damdamun-Latiph, Princess Maleiha Candao, Sittie Shahara Mastura, Diamila Ramos, Nabila Pangandaman, Ali Salik, Amilbahar Mawallil, Rasol Mitmug, Dr. Susana Anayatin, Alim Mujahid, Abduladzis Esmael, Eddie Alih, Atty. Lanang Ali Jr., Ziaur Alonto-Adiong, Mohagher Iqbal, and Atty. Omar Yasser Sema, are also co-authors of the Proposed Resolution.

“Because of its necessity, we have to approve this. It reflects our dignity, our culture, and us as human beings and Bangsamoro people,” Tago stated.

The Bangsamoro Government has released a statement regarding the said massacre on August 30, 2020.

“These senseless violent acts have no place in a progressive society, especially at a time when people are in grip of a global pandemic. We want justice,” the statement affirmed.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim also assigned public order and safety minister MP Hussein Munoz to lead the investigation.

Fifty-four (54) MPs attended the session via online teleconferencing. Meanwhile, only 15 individuals are allowed inside its Executive Lounge during the session. This included Majority Floor Leader Atty. Lanang Ali Jr., the Speaker of the Day MP Atty. Omar Yasser Sema, and BTA Secretary General Prof. Raby Angkal and their respective staff. (Bureau of Public Information)

*Originally published by the Bangsamoro Information Office (https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/news/latest-news/bta-calls-law-enforcers-to-fast-track-kabacan-massacre-probe/)

Cotabato City (August 27, 2020)—The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) approved Thursday, August 27, a resolution condemning the twin bombings last August 24 in heavily populated areas in downtown Jolo, Sulu.

Moreover, Member of Parliament (MP) Amir Mawallil, the proponent of Proposed Resolution No. 289, suggested that cash assistance can be immediately provided to the families of the bombing victims which accounted for 14 fatalities and injured at least 78 individuals, including government troops.

“An initial news report said that the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) will respond to those displaced, the victims, and the survivors of the recent bombing,” Mawallil said.

“Some of those who were affected and those who survived have the problem of how they’re going back to their livelihood, since some of them are selling on the streets when the incident happened,” Mawallil added.

The said resolution was authored by MPs Hatimil Hassan, Amir Mawallil, Eddie Alih, Abraham Burahan, Don Mustapha Loong, Atty. Jose Lorena, Al-Syed Sali, Atty. Laisa Alamia, Atty. Nabil Tan, Adzfar Usman, Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, Rasul Ismael, and Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr.

“The entire parliament is one with this resolution condemning the twin bombing in downtown Jolo, Sulu,” MP Ziaur-Rahman Adiong stated, who was the Speaker of the Day during the said session.

In addition to the support from the MSSD, it can also be recalled that after the unfortunate explosions, the Bangsamoro Government facilitated to offer assistance for the medical expenses of the victims through the Ayudang Medikal Mula sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBAG) Program of the Office of the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, a resolution “expressing profound sympathy” to the late Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Undersecretary Dimasangcay Alangadi Pundato (Proposed Resolution No. 286) was approved during the said session.

The parliament also covered three committee reports, including the creation of the Bangsamoro Sports Commission (Committee Substitute Bill No. 52), an act institutionalizing policy for Bangsamoro overseas employment (Parliament Bill No. 36), and the special committee report on Marawi. (Bureau of Public Information)

*Originally published by the Bangsamoro Information Office (https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/news/latest-news/bta-condemns-jolo-bombings-bangsamorogovernment-to-provide-aid/)

COTABATO CITY – – Former Moro revolutionary leader Dimasangkay “Dimas” Alangadi Pundato died on Thursday, August 13 in his residence in Marawi City, an official of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) said. He was 72.

“The NCMF officials and employees extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon (We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return),” Dr. Dimapuno Datu-Ramos Jr., NCMF director for external relations said in a social media post.

A native of Lanao del Sur, Pundato was part of the original group of Moro fighters who trained abroad, known as the Top 90 of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and fought for self-determination of the Moro people.

Later, Pundato chaired the MNLF-Reformist Group that espoused changes in the way the Moro revolution was being run, in step with the times.

When he joined government, Pundato headed the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA), the precursor of the NCMF.

He also served as Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Lawyer Rasol Mitmug Jr., a member of the interim Bangsamoro parliament, said he, along with Zia Alonto-Adiong is set to file a resolution “expressing profound sympathy and most sincere condolences” to the family of Pundato.

Pundato was born on December 21, 1947.