Sulu, Philippines – Despite the recent Supreme Court decision severing Sulu from the Bangsamoro region, a total of 5,700 Bangsamoro employees in the province will continue receiving their salaries for 2024, subject to the completion of required documentation, Bangsamoro Spokesperson Mohd Asnin Pendatun announced on Thursday.
“We received the official copy of the Supreme Court (SC) decision on September 16, which, in effect, sets the cutoff as to the appreciation of such ruling,” Pendatun, who is also the Cabinet Secretary of the Bangsamoro Government, said in an exclusive interview.
Supreme Court Ruling
On September 9, the SC ruled that Sulu province be severed from the Bangsamoro region as a result of the 2019 plebiscite, where the province cast 54% negative votes, leading to its non-inclusion in the autonomous region. Under Section 18, Article X of the 1987 Constitution, only provinces, cities, and geographic areas voting favorably in a plebiscite creating an autonomous region shall be included in such region.
Salary Continuation
Pendatun assured that permanent personnel will receive their salaries as usual, covering the period from September 1–15 of the current fiscal year. However, starting September 16 onward, both permanent and contract of service personnel (COSP) are required to comply with the signing of a document of undertaking. This document states that in the event of disallowance, the received salary shall be returned to the government.
Pendatun further noted that the contracts of the COSP need to be binding specifically with the ‘regional’ government. Regarding unfilled positions, they will remain vacated unless otherwise ordered.
Legal Measures and Future Plans
The Bangsamoro Spokesperson emphasized that the interim government is still exploring legal options to address the SC decision and preserve the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process pursuant to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)—the final peace accord between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which ended decades of armed struggle.
“If you observe, ‘on or before December 31’ is emphasized because we are not closing the possibility that prior to concluding 2024, a new issuance or legal measure will be available,” Pendatun shared.
Commitment to Welfare
“We are looking into the general welfare of the Bangsamoro people in Sulu, leading to our recommendations that are mutually beneficial to all concerned,” Pendatun added. This commitment underscores the Bangsamoro Government’s dedication to ensuring the well-being of its employees and the broader community in Sulu, despite the administrative changes brought about by the SC ruling.
