Islamic accountants glad BOL plebiscite to go on
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur: The Philippine Association of Islamic Accountants Inc. (PAIA) is happy the Supreme Court has not granted a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite scheduled to be held on January 21 and February 6 .
PAIA president Amanoding Esmail in an exclusive interview told The Manila Times that it is heartening to hear the high court did not stop the holding of the BOL plebiscite.
But even as he is glad of the development, he could not say any further comment as head of PAIA whose petition to affirm the legality of Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law is still being heard by the Supreme Court.
The PAIA has filed a motion in the Supreme Court through lawyers Nasser A. Marohomsalic and Manuelito Luna for leave to intervene on the petitions questioning the legality of the BOL.
The group wants the petitions filed by the province of Sulu, represented by Gov. Abdusakur Tan II and the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), dismissed.
Tan and Philconsa believe that the BOL is unconstitutional and has asked the Supreme Court to declare it illegal and unconstitutional.
In his petition, Tan said the BOL contradicted the 1987 Constitution, particularly Article X, Sections 18 and 19, which mentioned the creation of an organic act for each autonomous region.
On the other hand, the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to declare the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) as "unconstitutional, null and void.”
It also asked the High Court to issue a TRO on the implementation of the law, which creates the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR) in place of ARMM.
In a 51-page answer-in-intervention, PAIA said the constitutional provision can only be construed as a mere directive for the first Congress elected under the 1987 Constitution to pass the organic acts for the autonomous regions in Mindanao and the Cordilleras within 18 months from the time of its organization while Section 18 relates to the process of such organic acts.
“Petitioner overreached in opining that the constitutional provisions delimit the legislative power of Congress; it is reading something into the provisions,” PAIA said.
The group added that the BOL is designed to protect the religious minority and social justice legislation in compliance by government of its obligation under international law.
The BOL area will be made up of the current ARMM provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, with the additional six municipalities of Lanao del Norte, 39 villages of Cotabato, and the chartered cities of Isabela and Cotabato, subject to the approval of the voters. (MNY)
