A year after the huge MOA-AD rally, Celso: Zambo stays firm on domain issue
Exactly a year ago today, throngs of people coming from the different sectors of the city including Isabela, Basilan, wearing red t-shirts and red ribbons converged in front of City Hall to declare opposition to the then memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) which would have resulted to the creation of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity in some parts of the country including Zamboanga.
As Mayor Celso Lobregat and District I Cong. Beng Climaco spearheaded the rally in front of City Hall that day, Zamboangueno lawyers and District 2 Cong. Erbie Fabian filed the petition asking the Supreme Court to restrain the national government from signing the MOA-AD with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) set to be held the following day in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Today is a very historic event not only for Zamboanga City, for Mindanao but for the entire country,” Mayor Lobregat said as he rekindled the events that transpired last year culminating with the landmark decision of the Supreme Court declaring the MOA-AD as unconstitutional and not within the bounds of law on October 14, 2008.
Lobregat said: “It was on August 4, 2008, it was a Monday during the flag raising ceremony here in front of City Hall when we had a very big rally to protest the MOA-AD, which was supposed to be signed in Malaysia on August 5, 2008”, Mayor Lobregat said as he addressed city government officials and employees attending the flag raising ceremony yesterday.
Lobregat said unity and solidarity gave the Zamboangueños—Christians and Muslims alike, the courage to fight for the retention of the sovereignty and integrity not only of city of Zamboanga but of Mindanao and the entire country. “Because of strength and determination we were able to help save our country from dismemberment”.
In the afternoon of the same day (Aug. 4), the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision granting the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) aborting the signing of the MOA-AD. “That was the start of our struggle and which we eventually won, as the Supreme Court finally declared the MOA-AD as unconstitutional and not within the bounds of law”, Mayor Lobregat said.
The August 4, 2008 huge rally in front of City Hall was followed by a series of events and these included the following: August 7 – Sen. Mar Roxas, North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pinol and Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz in a press conference at the Garden Orchid Hotel declared that they are joining forces in the fight against accord; August 13 –The Liga ng mga Barangay holds general assembly and approves a resolution reiterating stand against the MOA-AD; August 14 – Mayor Lobregat, Gov. Pinol, Mayor Cruz with the members of their individual official family attend the joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation; August 14 – Mayor Lobregat attends a forum on BJE sponsored by the UP Jambangan, an organization of Zamboangueño students in coordination with the La Hermanidad Zamboangueña Foundation, Inc. and on August 14 - Zamboanga folks simultaneously light candles on streets and houses at 7p.m. after an ecumenical prayer aired on radio.
August 15, 2008 was the schedule of the first oral arguments at the Supreme Court with Atty. Ma. Lourdes Sereno, counsel for intervenor Franklin Drillon, taking the stand; August 17 –Mayor Lobregat reveals that more supplemental petitions were filed with new petitioners filing their own – asking the Court to declare the MOA-AD unconstitutional, null and void; August 18 – Mayor Lobregat calls on the constituents to stay calm, sober but alert amidst the MILF-led attacks in Iligan and North Cotabato days before the first oral arguments.
August 22 was the schedule of the 2nd oral arguments and Mayor Lobregat takes the stand to supplement the arguments presented by Zamboanga’s legal team led by Atty. Jose Saavedra. Mayor Lobregat comes down in history as the first and only non-lawyer mayor who was given the rare opportunity to speak before the High Court.
On August 27 Mayor Lobregat briefs Rotary Club-West about the MOA-AD; August 29 was the schedule of third oral argument and the national government’s representative Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera takes the stand; August 30 –Mayor Lobregat addresses Mindanao bishops in Davao City. He was joined by Senator Mar Roxas, Vice Gov. Pinol and the lawyer of Mayor Cruz. On September 23, the Rotary Club-West of Zamboanga cites Mayor Lobregat’s leadership in carrying the fight against the MOA-AD.
October 14 was a significant day for Mindanaoans and oppositors of the MOA-AD for it was the day when the Supreme Court ruled that the MOA-AD is unconstitutional, a decision that was affirmed on November 11.
After the Supreme Court affirmation, anti-MOA-AD streamers hung at the balcony of City Hall at the height of the anti-BJE protests were finally lowered in formal ceremonies on Dec. 3, spearheaded by Mayor Lobregat, Sen. Mar Roxas, North Cotabato Vice Gov. Pinol and Iligan Mayor Lawrence Cruz—the forces behind the anti-MOA-AD struggle.
Lobregat said the city of Zamboanga will continue to stay firm on the domain issue and will continue to oppose any attempts to divide or dismember Zamboanga, Mindanao or the country.
“We have taken the lead in this struggle and we will continue to do so should there be any other attempts in the future,” the mayor added. (Sheila Covarrubias)