Presidential adviser warns of '3rd wave of war' in Sulu after exclusion from BARMM

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential Adviser on Muslim Affairs Almarim Centi Tillah on Wednesday criticized the Supreme Court over its ruling that excluded Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and warned that this could trigger «a third wave of war» in the province.

In a DZRH radio interview, Tillan, a former governor of Tawi-Tawi, asked why the High Court did not consult him or any native from Sulu on the issue and that decisions were being made from Manila.

«Any decision by the government that would directly affect the people should be consulted first. Imperial Manila has been deciding for us ever since, and I was telling this President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.], when he was still a senator, to fix this issue [on Sulu]. The people in Manila must not decide for us,» he said.

«I was never consulted… that's why I was telling the President and sent him memos as to why decisions are being made here [Manila]. You appointed me as your presidential adviser,» Tillah added.

He has not received any reply from the Office of the President.

Tillah noted that there was a petition and plebiscite in 2019, led by Sulu governor Abdusakur Tan, which he did not participate in because it was a «product of war.»

«You have to consult the [Moro National Liberation Front] commanders, Nur Misuari, who's still alive, wasn't consulted, and the civilians were not consulted,» he said.

He feared that there would be a «third wave» of war in the province over the High Court's ruling.

«I'm warning the government and the people, because there's already frustration on the side of Sulu [and the MNLF],» he said.

Sulu was excluded from the BARMM, as a result of a plebiscite that rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the province.