Peace council turns over Bangsamoro law report to Senate
The Citizen’s Peace Council on Tuesday morning turned over its report on the Bangsamoro Basic Law to the Senate.
Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and other members of the council gave a copy of the 50-page report to Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., chair of the committee tackling the proposed law.
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“We hope that the report of the peace council can clarify many of doubts that have been raised both on matters of principle and on matters of law in the course of the hearings conducted by Senator Bongbong Marcos,” Drilon said during the press conference.
He said the report would “be of great assistance and will be an important guide” during the committee hearings.
He added they were “glad” that the council had been able to submit its report, especially after the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll showed that 45 percent of Filipinos believe that peace negotiations are more effective in dealing with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
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The passage of the BBL, which has been stalled in Congress following the bloody Mamasapano operation, will pave the way for the creation of a new political entity in Mindanao. It is among the agreements made by the MILF and the government.
Although the peace agreement between the two parties are still in place, the MILF and the draft BBL have received flak from various groups.
Marcos said the Senate is grateful “that a group of individuals with such stature has weighed in on this (contentious) question.”
“The report will certainly clarify certain matters,” he said.
Citing his previous meeting with Marcos, Drilon said the hearings by the committee on local government would be terminated in two weeks time.
Davide said the council tried its best to be very constructive.
The executive summary of the report said the BBL was constitutional. Despite criticisms, the council earlier told Congress that it was “acceptable.”
Other members of the council, which was formed by President Benigno Aquino III, are Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, businessman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, former Ambassador to the Holy See and Malta Howard Dee, and youth leader Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman. CB
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