COTABATO CITY—The Moro region can turn optimistic as the President, even for a Ramadan gift, would eventually certify as urgent a legislative measure extending the term of the Bangsamroro Transitional Authority to three more years.
Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu says Congress is likely to pass the harmonized version of the bills extending the BTA term, which would also effectively reset the regional elections from May 2022 to May 2025.
Mangudadatu foresaw that the passage of the bill to extend BTA’s statutory lifespan could take place during the Muslim fasting season of Ramadan.
The congressional passage of the BTA-extending measure will be predicated by a Malacañang blessing in President Rodrigo Duterte certifying it an urgent administration bill for both Houses of Congress.
If the previous acts of Chief Executives during Ramadan are any indication, the President would eventually certify it as urgent even as a Ramadan gift to the Moro people, Mangudadatu said.
Republic Act 11054, the Bangsamoro Organic Law, provides for a three-year BTA, a transitional mechanism that sets the Parliament and the Executive structures operationalizing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as a governing body.
Mangudadatu, author of one of the bills being harmonized in the House for the proposed BTA extension, foresaw a presidential push coming in
the form of a Malacañang certification to the urgency of the measure as a “Ramadan Gift” from the Chief Executive.
The Maguindanao congressman noted that the Muslims were honored as the seat of powers were opened to them in ceremonies of Ramadan Iftar or the dusk break dinners, whether in embassies of western countries in Manila or in Malacañang, and even in the White House in Washington D.C.
The tradition of opening the seat of powers for Muslims on an iftar dinner-of-honor started in the White House during the presidency of Bill Clinton, when he and wife Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted U.S. Muslims to an Iftar dinner in the White House in 1997.
As Philippine President, Fidel Ramos also did as much in renewing ties he had developed with Philippine Muslims since his early years of military career.
Then beleaguered President Joseph Estrada, amid impeachment charges in the House of Representatives, opened the Malacañang Social Hall to Moro Muslims for aftar Dinner on December 5, 2000.