Senate begins consultations on ARMM expansion

The Senate committee on local government will start this week a series of consultations with various groups in Mindanao and Palawan on the proposed expanded coverage of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Under the proposal, the ARMM will be expanded to cover, besides the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, 10 other provinces, including all cities in these areas.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., chairman of the Senate committee on local government, said the consultations will kick off in Zamboanga City and Jolo on Thursday, and later in the cities of Cotabato, Puerto Princesa, Marawi, Iligan and General Santos.

Pimentel said the Senate panel has invited religious and tribal leaders, local officials and representatives of civic groups in these areas to attend the dialogues.

"We must get the general sentiment of the people if they really want to be included in the autonomous region," he said.

Pimentel said the outcome of these consultations will be the basis of his panel's report on whether to recommend the approval or rejection of the proposed expanded coverage of the ARMM as stipulated under the peace agreement forged by the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in September 1996.

Pimentel said the MNLF will be fully represented in every dialogue to ensure transparency and erase doubts that the government is trying to dictate its stance on the issue.

The senator ruled out the participation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the consultations, saying this might only complicate ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the Muslim separatist group.

However, he said MILF representatives will be welcomed as observers in these dialogues.

Among the provinces proposed to be included in the expanded ARMM are Zamboanga del Sur and Norte, Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, North and South Cotabato, Palawan and Davao del Sur.