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| Philippine Bill Would Set Up Autonomous Region in Muslim-Dominated South | Philippine Bill Would Set Up Autonomous Region in Muslim-Dominated South |
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| MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday submitted a draft law to the Philippine Congress that would create a self-governed, predominantly Muslim autonomous region in the country’s south, a key step in peace talks meant to end more than four decades of fighting with Muslim rebels. | MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday submitted a draft law to the Philippine Congress that would create a self-governed, predominantly Muslim autonomous region in the country’s south, a key step in peace talks meant to end more than four decades of fighting with Muslim rebels. |
| “This law is for the children who wish to run across school grounds instead of running for their lives,” Mujiv S. Hataman, a politician in the southern Philippines, said in a statement Wednesday. “This law is for families who want to put life into the earth through crops and produce, no longer to dig graves for their fathers and sons who have fallen in war. This law is what will help them realize their wishes and dreams.” | “This law is for the children who wish to run across school grounds instead of running for their lives,” Mujiv S. Hataman, a politician in the southern Philippines, said in a statement Wednesday. “This law is for families who want to put life into the earth through crops and produce, no longer to dig graves for their fathers and sons who have fallen in war. This law is what will help them realize their wishes and dreams.” |
| The long-running conflict between the government and Muslim fighters in the south has killed thousands of people and displaced more than three million. It has also left Mindanao, the Philippines’ largest southern island, mired in poverty and lawlessness despite being rich in resources, including natural gas, gold and valuable minerals. | The long-running conflict between the government and Muslim fighters in the south has killed thousands of people and displaced more than three million. It has also left Mindanao, the Philippines’ largest southern island, mired in poverty and lawlessness despite being rich in resources, including natural gas, gold and valuable minerals. |
| The draft law that Mr. Aquino submitted to the Philippine Congress on Wednesday stems from an October 2012 peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest of the Muslim rebel groups. It would group Muslim-dominated southern areas into what would be called the Bangsamoro region, based on the traditional name of Filipino Muslims. | The draft law that Mr. Aquino submitted to the Philippine Congress on Wednesday stems from an October 2012 peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest of the Muslim rebel groups. It would group Muslim-dominated southern areas into what would be called the Bangsamoro region, based on the traditional name of Filipino Muslims. |
| To emphasize the importance of the law to his administration, Mr. Aquino personally presented the draft measure to leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives at a ceremony on Wednesday morning. | To emphasize the importance of the law to his administration, Mr. Aquino personally presented the draft measure to leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives at a ceremony on Wednesday morning. |
| “Trust brought us here,” Mr. Aquino said during the ceremony. “Throughout the negotiations, I saw that each side genuinely wished to reach an agreement. We have proven that, in a situation where one does not consider who has the upper hand, one can truly give rise to a situation where everyone wins.” | “Trust brought us here,” Mr. Aquino said during the ceremony. “Throughout the negotiations, I saw that each side genuinely wished to reach an agreement. We have proven that, in a situation where one does not consider who has the upper hand, one can truly give rise to a situation where everyone wins.” |
| The Bangsamoro region would have local self-government, including locally recruited law enforcement officials — a critical demand by the rebels, given the allegations of human rights abuses in the region by the Philippine police and military, many of whom are Christians from the north. About four million people would live in the Bangsamoro region. Of the Philippines’ population of 107 million, about 5 percent are Muslim, most of them living in the south; about 80 percent are Catholic. | The Bangsamoro region would have local self-government, including locally recruited law enforcement officials — a critical demand by the rebels, given the allegations of human rights abuses in the region by the Philippine police and military, many of whom are Christians from the north. About four million people would live in the Bangsamoro region. Of the Philippines’ population of 107 million, about 5 percent are Muslim, most of them living in the south; about 80 percent are Catholic. |
| The region would also retain most of the tax revenue generated from its natural resources. The central government would retain control over currency, foreign policy issues and national defense. | The region would also retain most of the tax revenue generated from its natural resources. The central government would retain control over currency, foreign policy issues and national defense. |
| The Philippines in recent years has experienced surging economic growth, and an expanding middle class is enjoying prosperity not seen since the 1950s. But this phenomenon has largely bypassed the southern Philippines, with persistent violence keeping out foreign investors and the jobs they create. | The Philippines in recent years has experienced surging economic growth, and an expanding middle class is enjoying prosperity not seen since the 1950s. But this phenomenon has largely bypassed the southern Philippines, with persistent violence keeping out foreign investors and the jobs they create. |
| The peace agreement and the formation of the new autonomous region still face significant challenges. The government and rebels underwent difficult, monthslong negotiations to draft the law that will underpin the new arrangement. It now must be passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. | The peace agreement and the formation of the new autonomous region still face significant challenges. The government and rebels underwent difficult, monthslong negotiations to draft the law that will underpin the new arrangement. It now must be passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. |
| Mr. Aquino has significant influence in both houses. He has shown that he can get contentious legislation through Congress, including the passage of a reproductive health bill that was ardently opposed by the Roman Catholic Church. But some Philippine legislators have called for changes in the new law, and rebel leaders have said they could reject the final measure if the key provisions benefiting the rebels are watered down. | Mr. Aquino has significant influence in both houses. He has shown that he can get contentious legislation through Congress, including the passage of a reproductive health bill that was ardently opposed by the Roman Catholic Church. But some Philippine legislators have called for changes in the new law, and rebel leaders have said they could reject the final measure if the key provisions benefiting the rebels are watered down. |
| “What is not clear is how any changes made by Congress will be handled by the two sides,” said Steven Rood, the country representative of the Asia Foundation in the Philippines. “The draft as certified by the president represents a mutually acceptable law. There will have to be constant and detailed communication about the acceptability, or lack of acceptability, of proposed congressional changes.” | “What is not clear is how any changes made by Congress will be handled by the two sides,” said Steven Rood, the country representative of the Asia Foundation in the Philippines. “The draft as certified by the president represents a mutually acceptable law. There will have to be constant and detailed communication about the acceptability, or lack of acceptability, of proposed congressional changes.” |
| The issues raised by legislators were taken into consideration during the negotiations and the drafting of the law, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, the chairwoman of the government’s negotiating team, said in an interview. Some lawmakers have noted that the new region will keep a much larger portion of local taxes than their own districts do, and have said that those funds might be better used for the national benefit rather than going into local coffers. | The issues raised by legislators were taken into consideration during the negotiations and the drafting of the law, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, the chairwoman of the government’s negotiating team, said in an interview. Some lawmakers have noted that the new region will keep a much larger portion of local taxes than their own districts do, and have said that those funds might be better used for the national benefit rather than going into local coffers. |
| “The reason for a better wealth-sharing arrangement in the Bangsamoro has to do with the fact that this place has been left behind in terms of economic development,” Ms. Coronel-Ferrer said. “ It is part of the correction, a kind of reparation.” | |
| Opponents of the agreement have said that it infringes on Philippine sovereignty, essentially creating a separate Muslim state in the south. A number of organizations have said they will contest the law’s constitutionality in the Supreme Court. If the high court strikes down key aspects of the law dealing with autonomy or revenue-sharing, the rebels have said they will reject it. | Opponents of the agreement have said that it infringes on Philippine sovereignty, essentially creating a separate Muslim state in the south. A number of organizations have said they will contest the law’s constitutionality in the Supreme Court. If the high court strikes down key aspects of the law dealing with autonomy or revenue-sharing, the rebels have said they will reject it. |
| The most violent groups in the southern Philippines are not party to the agreement, including the Abu Sayyaf, which has carried out high-profile kidnappings, beheadings and bombings for more than a decade. The Abu Sayyaf was blamed by the military in July for killing 23 people on the southern Philippine island of Sulu, including more than a dozen women and children. In July, one of the senior leaders of Abu Sayyaf swore allegiance in an online video to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. | The most violent groups in the southern Philippines are not party to the agreement, including the Abu Sayyaf, which has carried out high-profile kidnappings, beheadings and bombings for more than a decade. The Abu Sayyaf was blamed by the military in July for killing 23 people on the southern Philippine island of Sulu, including more than a dozen women and children. In July, one of the senior leaders of Abu Sayyaf swore allegiance in an online video to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. |