BAGUIO CITY—The constitutional mandate to form a Cordillera autonomous region has again drawn the attention of the government, following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. But to get the support of President Rodrigo Duterte, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia suggested holding a “preplebiscite” to gauge how Cordillera residents really felt about a third bid for autonomy. But two organic laws to form the Cordillera autonomous region were rejected in plebiscites in 1990 and 1998. ADVERTISEMENTInstead of backing the autonomy bill, Aquino pursued in 2011 a closure agreement with Balweg’s militia, the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army, to resolve the peace talks began by his mother. “It would be the impetus for President [Duterte] to make [an autonomy] bill urgent,” he said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 11, 2019 21:11 UTC