Gov’t panel chief still hopes BBL passed before Sona

MANILA, Philippines–There’s no giving up on the peace process, declared government chief peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer on Friday, adding that the creation of a Bangsamoro region was still in sight despite the major setback in the passage of the crucial Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress.

“We’re not down and out,” Ferrer said, adding that “as far as the government and President (Aquino) are concerned, the peace policy still holds.”

But Ferrer acknowledged that it would be impossible to have a BBL by March 20, when Congress ends its session, although she added that it could still be passed in May or June before President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) in July.

The BBL hearings took a beating in Congress after a police operation in pursuit of two terrorists in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, ended in a clash that left 44 Special Action Force men, 18 Moro rebels and five civilians dead.

Ferrer said the only drawback would be a shortened period for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which will be created following passage of the BBL. The BTA will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to ensure a functioning government until the May 2016 elections, when the Bangsamoro people vote for leaders of their new autonomous region.

Instead of having one full year, the BTA would have around seven months to implement the provisions in the peace agreement that would still be subject to the approval of both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels, Ferrer said.

“There will be a BBL under this administration, a good one,” agreed Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles, who added that the MILF’s trust in President Aquino remains “unassailed.”