District 1 Congressman, Celso Lobregat assured yesterday that all of Zamboanga City’s major interests are already protected and included in the substitute House Bill 6475, known as ”AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE BASIC LAW FOR THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN THE BANGSAMORO...”
This was Lobregat's reaction to the statement of District II Councilor Rommel Agan, son of the Lobregats' political nemesis, the late Mayor Vitaliano Agan, that Lobregat abandoned the interest of Zamboanga City when abstained from voting on the passage of the BBL.
In an interview with RMN-Zamboanga, Lobregat said that instead of having six (6) plebiscites, the 1st upon ratification, and every five (5) years thereafter for a period of 25 years in the original bill, he was able to change it in the Substitute HB6475 that was approved by Congress where only one (1) plebiscite will be held upon ratification of the BBL.
The substitute bill provides for the protection of and interest of not only Zamboanga City, but the entire Mindanao, he said.
“What would have my perennial critic wanted? For me to vote NO? If I voted NO, that would mean I am in favor of six plebiscites in a period of 25 years which is definitely not what the Zamboangeños wanted. So, who is protecting Zamboanga City’s interest?” Lobregat asked.
The solon said that in the original HB6475, even a barangay that petitions to join Bangsamoro through the 10% provision and obtains a majority vote in the barangay, will be allowed to be part of the Bangsamoro. “I fought and made a stand. And in the substitute HB6475, a barangay cannot join without the expressed approval of the entire city. Isn’t this what the Zamboangeños want? That no barangay will become part of the Bangsamoro? Definitely in any plebiscite, the city will vote against any barangay being part of the Bangsamoro. So please do not distort the facts that I did not took a stand, I took a stand and many of the provisions in the original house bill were amended because of my stand,” Lobregat stressed.
One very important issue, Lobregat said, is the Cabatangan property issue. In the original HB6475, all properties of the ARMM will be AUTOMATICALLY transferred to the Bangsamoro upon its ratification. Lobregat said he took a strong stand, and in the Substitute HB6475, all properties of the ARMM will be transferred to the Bangsamoro EXCEPT THOSE THAT ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE AREA OF the ARMM (E.G. CABATANGAN WILL NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO BANGSAMORO).
“If I voted NO, it means to say that I am in favor for the automatic transfer of the Cabatangan properties to the Bangsamoro. So, I have definitely taken a stand and protected Zamboanga City’s interest on the Cabatangan issue,” Lobregat said.
He pointed out that even the City Mayor herself in the press conference held at city hall last Monday, she confirmed that a meeting occurred at the House of Representatives which was attended by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Farinas and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, where the Cabatangan issue was discussed.
He said it was because of his constant prodding to Lorenzana about how strategically located Cabatangan is that the issue was discussed in the said meeting.
As a result of that meeting, Secretary Lorenzana asked the mayor to provide him the details of the Cabatangan properties. As there is now a proposal for the national government to purchase the Cabatangan properties and maintain it as a military facility.
“So, who has abandoned Zamboanga City? The said “sabiondo” wanted me to vote NO, then I would have to go against the very provisions I wanted amended to protect the city’s interest,” Lobregat added.
Lobregat said he is urging the “sabiondos” not to engage in false information to malign him and his efforts to protect and defend Zamboanga City’s interests in Congress.
“Who is telling the truth and who is misleading the people? Deficil disperta con el despierto, y tormento gayot hace entende con el serao el pensamiento. We are for peace, prosperity and development of the ARMM and the Bangsamoro. But I have led and will continuously lead the move for NO to Zamboanga’s inclusion in the ARMM, MOA-AD, and Bangsamoro.” Lobregat said. (Bhong Simbajon/RMN News)
This was Lobregat's reaction to the statement of District II Councilor Rommel Agan, son of the Lobregats' political nemesis, the late Mayor Vitaliano Agan, that Lobregat abandoned the interest of Zamboanga City when abstained from voting on the passage of the BBL.
In an interview with RMN-Zamboanga, Lobregat said that instead of having six (6) plebiscites, the 1st upon ratification, and every five (5) years thereafter for a period of 25 years in the original bill, he was able to change it in the Substitute HB6475 that was approved by Congress where only one (1) plebiscite will be held upon ratification of the BBL.
The substitute bill provides for the protection of and interest of not only Zamboanga City, but the entire Mindanao, he said.
“What would have my perennial critic wanted? For me to vote NO? If I voted NO, that would mean I am in favor of six plebiscites in a period of 25 years which is definitely not what the Zamboangeños wanted. So, who is protecting Zamboanga City’s interest?” Lobregat asked.
The solon said that in the original HB6475, even a barangay that petitions to join Bangsamoro through the 10% provision and obtains a majority vote in the barangay, will be allowed to be part of the Bangsamoro. “I fought and made a stand. And in the substitute HB6475, a barangay cannot join without the expressed approval of the entire city. Isn’t this what the Zamboangeños want? That no barangay will become part of the Bangsamoro? Definitely in any plebiscite, the city will vote against any barangay being part of the Bangsamoro. So please do not distort the facts that I did not took a stand, I took a stand and many of the provisions in the original house bill were amended because of my stand,” Lobregat stressed.
One very important issue, Lobregat said, is the Cabatangan property issue. In the original HB6475, all properties of the ARMM will be AUTOMATICALLY transferred to the Bangsamoro upon its ratification. Lobregat said he took a strong stand, and in the Substitute HB6475, all properties of the ARMM will be transferred to the Bangsamoro EXCEPT THOSE THAT ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE AREA OF the ARMM (E.G. CABATANGAN WILL NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO BANGSAMORO).
“If I voted NO, it means to say that I am in favor for the automatic transfer of the Cabatangan properties to the Bangsamoro. So, I have definitely taken a stand and protected Zamboanga City’s interest on the Cabatangan issue,” Lobregat said.
He pointed out that even the City Mayor herself in the press conference held at city hall last Monday, she confirmed that a meeting occurred at the House of Representatives which was attended by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Farinas and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, where the Cabatangan issue was discussed.
He said it was because of his constant prodding to Lorenzana about how strategically located Cabatangan is that the issue was discussed in the said meeting.
As a result of that meeting, Secretary Lorenzana asked the mayor to provide him the details of the Cabatangan properties. As there is now a proposal for the national government to purchase the Cabatangan properties and maintain it as a military facility.
“So, who has abandoned Zamboanga City? The said “sabiondo” wanted me to vote NO, then I would have to go against the very provisions I wanted amended to protect the city’s interest,” Lobregat added.
Lobregat said he is urging the “sabiondos” not to engage in false information to malign him and his efforts to protect and defend Zamboanga City’s interests in Congress.
“Who is telling the truth and who is misleading the people? Deficil disperta con el despierto, y tormento gayot hace entende con el serao el pensamiento. We are for peace, prosperity and development of the ARMM and the Bangsamoro. But I have led and will continuously lead the move for NO to Zamboanga’s inclusion in the ARMM, MOA-AD, and Bangsamoro.” Lobregat said. (Bhong Simbajon/RMN News)
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