COTABATO CITY – Eight lawmakers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have joined hands to author a bill that would strengthen the system management and archival records of the region.

In a statement Thursday, Bangsamoro Transition Authority parliament members Don Mustapha Loong, Baintan Ampatuan, Amilbahar Mawallil, Laisa Alamia, Rasol Mitmug Jr., Suharto Ambolodto, Rasul Ismael, and Jose Lorena said they have introduced BTA Bill No. 120 or “Bangsamoro Regional Archives Act,” in the plenary for the establishment of the Office of the Bangsamoro Regional Archives (OBRA).

“The maintenance of archival records is one of the important tasks of the BARMM government that should be advanced to preserve the region’s collective identity and history,” the group said.

Loong, in a separate interview, said the creation of the OBRA is a “must”, citing the region’s lack of archiving methods.

To address the drawback, Loong said the proposed OBRA bill objectives include the creation of a management system for the BARMM archival records; ensure that full and accurate records of the affairs of the BARMM government are maintained and preserved; increase public confidence in the integrity of public records keeping and management; ensure accessibility of public records relevant to the promotion and preservation of the Bangsamoro cultural heritage, and support the safekeeping of private records.

“Through these efforts, we could help preserve our history, educate and allow others to understand the determination of our (BARMM) leaders in governing our territory,” Loong said.

Once created, he said OBRA shall implement policies and provisions that will promote the region’s heritage and tradition, particularly the rich cultural heritage of the Sultanates of Sulu, Maguindanao, Kabuntalan, Buayan, the Royale House of Ranao, and the Iranun, as well as the indigenous peoples in the region. (PNA)

*Originally published on Philippine News Agency (https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1150930)

COTABATO CITY — Some of the Bangsamoro Parliament members introduced a bill in the plenary seeking to honor the valor of the Top 90 and Top 300 core members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

The bill, which also seeks to recognize the important contribution of the “young brave men” in preserving the safety and well-being of the Bangsamoro people, was filed by Amir Mawallil, Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, Engr. Baintan Adil-Ampatuan, Sittie Shahara Mastura, Atty. Laisa Alamia, Engr. Don Loong, Rasul Ismael, and Abraham Burahan.

The Top 90 were composed of the BARMM’s various ethnolinguistic groups that questioned the socio-political landscape in Mindanao and sought to address social injustices against the Bangsamoro people.

In 1972, the MNLF’s Top 90 core members grew and recruited 300 young Muslims to join the group.

“It is strange, however, that until today one cannot find a fitting monument in the BARMM that would serve as a lasting memorial to these courageous men who fought to assert our rights and affirm our distinct historical identity and birthright from those who attempted to subdue it,” the bill’s explanatory read.

The authors said that the BARMM needs a memorial that will be visited and revered by all, particularly by the present and future generations.

They said that it is right to remember the heroism of the Top 90 and Top 300 core members, given the immense devotion they have displayed repeatedly.

Every Bangsamoro, the authors noted, should be educated about the lives and heroism of the said brave men to understand the fundamental principles for which they fought—freedom, justice, and autonomy.

“The Top 90 and 300 core members, the unsung champions of the Bangsamoro struggle, should be given proper recognition for the bravery they have manifested in continuously fighting for our rights,” the authors said in the explanatory note.

Under the proposed bill, the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of the Cultural Heritage (BCPCH), as the agency responsible for writing the Bangsamoro history and sustaining the BARMM’s cultural institutions and projects, is tasked to produce and publish the official names of the mentioned MNLF.

The proposed legislation also called for the construction of a regional monument, the organization of relevant activities and materials to the education sector, and the holding of an annual commemoration. (Publication and Media Relations Division)

*Originally published by the BTA-Publication and Media Relations Division (https://parliament.bangsamoro.gov.ph/latest-news/bill-to-memorialize-the-bravery-of-mnlfs-top-90-and-300-core-members-now-on-plenary/)