The unfortunate incident at Mamasapano in Maguindanao has triggered public’s interest on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the on-going peace negotiations between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). One of the things that both parties have been discussing is the formation of the “Bangsamoro Core Territory.”

Though the island of Mindanao has been the focus of these talks, only a few areas of this vast island have the Moro people, ethno-linguistic group that are mostly Muslims in Mindanao, as a majority in the population. The migration of the Filipino people in Mindanao has left them marginalized, and now concentrated in areas traditionally the domains of sultanates that were once independent from colonial rule.

Where is it exactly?

Here’s a map showing the extant territories as defined by the BBL. You may zoom and click on the map for more details:

• The current Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which is comprised of Lanao del Sur (including Islamic City of Marawi), Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
• The cities of Cotabato (still under Soccsksargen Region yet it is the Seat of Governance of the ARMM) and Isabela (Capital City of Basilan, still part of Zamboanga Peninsula region)
• Areas that have voted its inclusion to the ARMM in 2011 which are:
  • Lanao del Norte’s towns of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, and Tangkal.

  Indicated on yellow are the six towns that voted for inclusion in ARMM in 2011

  • Some barangays in the towns of Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigkawayan, Pikit, and Midsayap in (North) Cotabato Province.
    • Aleosan: Dunguan, Lower Mingading, Tapodoc
    • Carmen: Nasapian, Manarapan
    • Kabacan: Nangaan, Sanggadong, Simbuhay
    • Midsayap: Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadinglian, Kapinpilan, Kudarangan, Central Labas, Malingao, Mudseng, Nabalawag, Olandang, Sambulawan, Tugal
    • Pigkawayan: Balacayon, Buricain, Datu Binasing, Kadingilan, Lower Baguer, Lower Pangangkalan, Matilac, Patot
    • Pikit: Bagoainged, Balatican, Balong, Balungis, Batulawan, Buliok, Gokoton, Kabasalan, Lagunde, Macabual, Macasandeg.

  Barangays in Cotabato Province that voted for inclusion in ARMM in 2011,

• All other contiguous areas where there is a resolution of the local government unit or a petition of at least ten percent (10%) of the registered voters asking for inclusion at least two months prior to conduct ratification of the BBL and the process of delimitation of the Bangsamoro (Article III, Sec. 2-D of BBL Draft)

Also in the draft, there will be a plebiscite or popular ratification that would be conducted in the mentioned core areas, to ensure acceptability of the BBL.

You may read more about the Bangsamoro Core Territory and the BBL at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process website.

(Disclaimer: Maps are for informational purposes only)