Newly-enacted HRA to boost strong justice system in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  - Local communities see the newly-enacted Human Rights Act (HRA) for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as a “boost” to efforts of propagating a strong justice system in a region whose residents have long been so callous with human rights abuses.

Fr. Eliseo Mercado Jr., a convenor of peace advocacy outfits in Mindanao, even agreed that the HRA, officially known as Muslim Mindanao Act 288, indeed has to be labeled “landmark legislation” by the caretaker legislators in the now 27-member Regional Assembly.

“This law is good for the people of ARMM and all sectors in the region, thus, should support its implementation,” pointed out Mercado, director of the foreign-assisted Institute for Autonomy and Governance.

 Chief Supt. Manuel Barcena of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao, whose jurisdiction also covers the autonomous region, said he is elated with the passage of MMA 288.

 Barcena and the ARMM’s police director, Chief Supt. Mario Avenido, both expressed readiness to help disseminate to all police units in the autonomous region.

 Members of the Mindanao Think Tank, a foreign-assisted block of multi-sectoral peace advocates, were just as elated.

“The Mindanao peace process, the peace process and all socio-economic and political interventions for the development of Moro communities are initiatives that should be hinged cohesively with the protection of human rights,” the MTT said in a statement.

Acting Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman signed Tuesday the ARMM’s Human Rights Act, a regional law meant to complement the humanitarian components of the national government’s Southern peace process.

Hataman signed the law in the presence of members of the Regional Assembly led by Speaker Rasol Mitmug, Jr.

Hataman and Mitmug separately said they were elated with the passage of MMA 288, which they both labeled as “landmark” legislation that can address the perennial issue of human rights abuses in most conflict-stricken areas of the autonomous region.

Mitmug, a lawyer, said he is optimistic MMA 288 will bolster the government’s effort of strengthening the justice system, in relation to upholding human rights, in the ARMM’s geographically-scattered provinces of the Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in Central Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.

 Hataman said the HRA will apply equally to the region’s Muslim and Christian inhabitants.

“Para po ito sa lahat, kaya suportahan po natin ang implementation nito,” Hataman said.

Even the chairman of the provincial chapter of the Liberal Party for Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat Mayor Hadji Tucao Mastura, was quick to express support to the implementation of the HRA.

“What is good for the Moro people and non-Muslim residents of the autonomous region, particularly in Maguindanao, the provincial chapter of the Liberal Party will support wholeheartedly,” Mastura said.

Mastura suggested, however, that local clerics be tapped to help educate local residents on the details of the HRA and its ramifications to efforts of protecting human rights in the autonomous region.