IMPACTS OF BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW

The Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act No. 11054), is a Philippine law
providing for the establishment of an autonomous political entity known as the
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM).
According to R.A. 11054, Article 1, Section 3, “The purpose of this organic law is to
establish a political entity, provide for its basic structure of government in recognition of
the justness and legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people and the aspiration of
Muslim Filipinos and all indigenous cultural communities in the Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to secure their identity and posterity, allowing
for meaningful self-governance within the framework of the Constitution and the national
sovereignty as well as territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines.”
BRIEF History
There were 2 relevant agreements during the Aquino’s Administration, and these
are:
 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2012
-A preliminary peace agreement which outlines the general features of the political
settlement between the Philippine government and MILF and the process of transition
from ARMM to a new bangsamoro autonomous political entity.
 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014
-A final peace agreement between the Phil. Government and MILF. Under this agreement,
the MILF would turn over their firearms to the Phil. Government and to decommission
themselves with their armed wing which is the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF)
These agreement serves as the basis of the draft of Bangsamoro Basic Law
On September 10, 2014, the first draft was submitted to the congress and they
named it as the BASIC LAW FOR THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION
On August 11, 2015, the senate revise the version of the BBL and named it as
BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION LAW
 However, BBL was not able to pass during the Aquino’s Administration due
to the length and complexity of the bill and because of the Mamasapano
Incident.
The Law on Bangsamoro was tackled again on Duterte’s Adminitration, that’s why
on July 26, 2018 President Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Effects of BOL to ARMM
The effect of Bangsamoro Organic Law to the ARMM would be the abolishment of the
said autonomous region. These effects would be:
1. The new form of government
 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region will follow the Parliamentary form of
government.
 Bangsamoro Parliament compose of 80 members, will elect their Chief Minister of
Bangsamoro, who is there chief executive of the regional government.
 Bangsamoro Cabinet advises the Chief Minister on matters of governance of the
autonomous region. It is composed of the chief minister, 1 regional vice governor
and 3 deputy regional governors
 There will be one unique position in the Bangsamoro Government and it is the
Wali or the ceremonial head of the region. The powers of Wali is to do moral
guardianship of the territory and convocation and dissolution of its proposed
legislature.
2. Annual Block Grant and they can create their own revenue stream
 Under the BOL, the central Government shall allocate the regional government an
annual block grant which is equivalent to 5% of the annual collection of the BIR
and Bureau of Customs.
 The BARMM Government will have greater fiscal autonomy as it will have the
power to create its own sources of revenue and collects taxes consistent with the
provisions of the organic law
Constitutionality of BOL
1. Opt-out provision.
 According to Article 15, Section 3 of BOL, “The majority of the votes cast in ARMM
shall be in favor of the approval of this organic law; provided that the provinces
and cities of the present ARMM shall vote as one geographical area.”
 BOL violates the Article 10, Section 15-18 of the 1987 constitution, which states
that only provinces and cities voting favorably for an autonomous region shall be
part of it.
2. The manner of voting
 The manner of voting in the Chief Minister also violated the people’s right to
suffrage as they will not directly participate in it.
3. The creation of BARMM to replace the existing ARMM
 The 1987 constitution only recognize one autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao
 ARMM cannot be abolished without first amending the 1987 constitution
specifically in Article 10, Sections 1, 15-18.

Definition of terms
Block grant- a grant from central gov. which a local authority can allocate to a wide range of
service.
Opt-out- an instance of choosing not to participate in something.
Questions:
Even if Sulu voted for “NO”, why is Sulu still considered in BARMM?
 According to BOL, “The majority of the votes cast in ARMM shall be in favor of
the approval of this organic law; provided that the provinces and cities of the
present ARMM shall vote as one geographical area.” This means that the
majority of the votes, if Yes or No ba, kailangan pa rin ng province or city na
iyon ma under sa BARMM since kasali ang Sulu sa ARMM and ARMM
considered as one geographical area (Geographical area means an area of land
that can be considered as a unit for the purpose of some geographical
classification)

Why is Isabela City not considered in the BARMM?

 Because in the first place, Isabela City is not included in the ARMM.