08/03/2025
Kung totoo man ito, ang mga taong to ay hindi mabubuting Islam hindi sinusunod ang aral ng Quran. Hindi to sila mapupunta sa paraiso ng Allah. Tsk tsk..
AUTONOMY DOES NOT MEAN IMMUNITY FROM OVERSIGHT
Letโs set the record straight. Being an autonomous region does not exempt BARMM from congressional oversight.
While BARMM operates under Republic Act No. 11054 (the Bangsamoro Organic Law), it remains subject to national government accountability, particularly when public funds are involved.
One key reason for this oversight is funding. BARMM receives significant financial support from the national government, including the Block Grant, which amounts to 5% of national revenue.
Since taxpayer money is allocated to the region, Congress has the authority to ensure proper spending, in line with its power of the purse.
If issues ariseโsuch as misuse of funds or security concernsโCongress has the right to investigate and summon BARMM officials for hearings.
And this applies to MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR as well.
Recently, concerns have emerged regarding the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) allocated to Maguindanao del Sur under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP).
The total LGSF released to officials in the province amounts to โฑ484.5 million, but where did the money go?
Government funds should serve the public good, not political interests. However, the lack of transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of these funds raises serious red flags.
The Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Bilang 881) strictly prohibits using government funds for partisan activities. Violators face severe penalties, including:
- 1 to 6 years of imprisonment
- Disqualification from holding public office
- Loss of voting rights
The infographic attached highlights substantial fund allocations to various mayors in the region, yet there is no clear evidence that these funds were used for their intended purposes.
This raises several pressing questions:
- Was the LGSF properly used for development projects?
- Was there transparency in fund allocation and spending?
- Were these funds diverted for political campaigns or personal gain?
Citizens have the right to demand transparency from their leaders. It is not enough to argue that BARMM is autonomous, therefore exempt from scrutiny.
While BARMM has self-governance, it remains part of the Philippine governmentโand accountable to the law.
Autonomy does not mean unchecked power. It does not mean immunity from congressional oversight. And it certainly does not mean freedom from accountability when public funds are at stake.