Columns -
This Week With Nene Pimentel
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Tuesday, 20 May 2008 22:41 |
Muslim rebel chieftain Nur Misuari has vowed to support the proposed adoption
of a federal system in the country which, among others, will pave the way for
the establishment of a BangsaMoro Federal State in
Mindanao.
Mr. Misuari,
foremost leader of the Moro National Liberation Front, offered to spearhead the
campaign for federalism in Muslim Mindanao when he visited Minority Leader
Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. at his Senate office Tuesday.
Senator Pimentel said Mr. Misuari, who was also ex-governor of the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao, recalled that he was already espousing federalism
when he ran as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1971.The senator from Mindanao said former Governor Misuari is one of several
prominent leaders of the Muslim community who believe that the creation of a
BangsaMoro Federal State – as part of a federalized Republic of the Philippines
– is the only constitutional and legal means of dissipating the causes of
Muslim rebellion and of laying the foundations of a just and lasting peace in
Mindanao.
The adoption of a federal system, which calls for the creation of 11 component
federal states in the country, is embodied in Joint Resolution 10 which was
introduced by Senator Pimentel and backed by a majority of senators.
“Of course, I told Mr. Misuari I do not expect you to agree with everything
that is found in the resolution. But what is important is we agree with the
concept of federalism, and we can refine the concept as we go along,” Senator Pimentel
said.
He said the proposed BangsaMoro Federal State should comprise as much as is
possible all the local government areas where the Muslims predominate.In order to allow the Muslims to enhance their culture, Mr. Pimentel said they
should be allowed to adopt the Shari’ah judicial system for purposes of
settling disputes among Muslim litigants.
“The Shari’ah, however, in my view should be subject to the national
constitution’s limitation that bars the imposition of cruel and unusual
punishment such as lashing or caning of criminals or cutting of the fingers or
arms or legs of criminals,” he said.
Senator Pimentel said the Shari’ah should apply only to the litigants who
profess Islam as their religion. He said if the litigants are of different
religions, the national law, not the Shari’ah, should apply. # # #
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 May 2008 22:43 |