Robredo laments Jolo twin blasts

Vice President Leni Robredo. (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday lamented the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu that killed at least 20 and injured 81 as it came just six days after the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite.

“Nakakalungkot na sa panahon na umaasa tayo na matutuldukan na iyong lahat na kaguluhan dito sa Mindanao, mangyayari iyong ganito,” she said in an interview in Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental.

[It’s sad that this happened at a time when we are hoping that there will be end be an end to the conflict in Mindanao.]

READ: Jolo twin blasts death toll reaches 20, with 81 others injured

Robredo called for the immediate justice for the victims of the blast, adding that it would be vital in ensuring that similar attacks could be prevented.

“Sana hindi na ito mangyari muli,” she said. “Mahalaga na kung sino iyong mga salarin dito, saka iyong mga biktima, mabigyan talaga ng katarungan. Kasi kung hindi, parang na-e-embolden lang iyong iba na gumawa pa ng mga similar na hakbang.”

[Hopefully, something like this won’t happen again. It’s important that the victims be given justice and that the perpetrators we brought to justice. Otherwise, others might be emboldened to do a similar thing.]

The Vice President noted that Sulu was the only province to reject the BOL. But those who approved of it won in the region, with other provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao voting for ratification.

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The BOL seeks to replace an existing poverty- and conflict-wracked Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a potentially larger, better-funded and more powerful region named Bangsamoro Autornomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for the minority Muslims.

Though expressing support for BOL ratification, Robredo emphasized the importance of creating a space where concerns of those with apprehensions against the BOL could be raised.

Meanwhile, she reiterated that the BOL would be an “instrument” towards finding solutions to the long-standing problems in Mindanao.

“Maraming nagsasabi na kaya ayaw nila ito kasi hindi naman nito masosolusyonan iyong maraming suliranin. Pero hindi natin kasi siya tinitingnan na solusyon. Tinitingnan natin siya na paraan para mahanapan ng solusyon [iyong mga suliraning ito],” she said.

[Many people are saying that they don’t like it because it won’t solve the problems. But, you see, I don’t look at it as the solution. I look at it as a way to finding the solution to those problems.]

“Iyong palagay ko, iyong BOL sana, isa siya sa mga mahalagang instrumento para iyong mga nawalan ng boses, o pakiramdam nilang nawalan sila ng boses, magkaroon ng isang pagkakataon na naipapahayag nila iyong kanilang saloobin,” she said.

[In my opinion, the BOL can be a valuable instrument for those whose voices are unheard, or those who feel they have lost their voices, as it will given them an opportunity to air their sentiments.] /atm

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