Regional Legislative Assembly

                              Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

                                           Fifth Legislative Assembly

                                             (Third Regular Session)

                                            RESOLUTION NO. 353

RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE OBJECTION OF THE REGIONAL ASSEMBLY TO THE HOLDING OF BALIKATAN WHETHER MILITARY, MEDICAL OR CIVILIAN EXERCISES IN THE PROVINCE OF LANAO DEL SUR AND THE ISLAMIC CITY OF MARAWI.

     WHEREAS, the Regional Assembly being the highest policy making body in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao should have been consulted for any Balikatan exercise in the area;

     WHEREAS, people o Lanao del Sur and Marawi City strictly adhere to their Islamic faith, culture and tradition;

     WHEREAS, they abhor and defy any new or strange activity or undertaking that could run counter to their moral and/or religious advocacy;

     WHEREAS, the participation of the U.S. troops in the Balikatan Military or Medical Exercises may thus create a serious repercussion due to cultural differences and lack of consultation with the Regional, Provincial, City and Municipal leaders  in the area;

     WHEREAS, the untold experiences in Clark, Subic and Sangley Point as well as in Basilan, Carmen and Sulu would provide an added reason to this objection;

     WHEREAS, in this spirit, this Assembly expresses its vehement objection in the strongest term to any move to hold the Balikatan Military Exercises in the above-mentioned province and city.

     NOW , THEREFORE, be it

     RESOLVED, by the Regional Assembly , as it hereby resolves, To express the objection of the Regional Assembly to the holding of the Balikatan whether Military, Medical, or Civilian Exercises in the Province of Lanao del Sur and the Islamic City of Marawi.

     RESOLVED, FURTHER, to furnish copies of this Resolution to the Office of the President, Malacanan Manila, Department of National Defense, Department of Foreign Affairs, Armed Forces of the Philippines, the ARMM Regional Governor and the U.S. Embassy, for their respective appropriate actions.

     ADOPTED, Feb. 5, 2008.

                                                            Certified Correct:

                                                            (original signed)

                                                      Datu Mama M. AMPATUAN

                                                            Secretary-General

Attested:

 (original signed)

Paisalin P. Tago