Peace groups call on gov’t, others to make thorough test on Bangsamoro law

By: Frances Mangosing - 10 years ago

Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF negotiator, and Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, head of the government negotiating panel, exchange copies of the peace agreement between the MILF and the Aquino administration they signed in Malacañang on March 27, 2014. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A group of peace-building organizations has urged the government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Transmission Commission to make a “thorough Constitutional test” of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in order for its endorsement to Congress as a priority bill become a reality.

“Consistency with the Constitution is the current bone of contention with the Basic Law as drafted by the Transition Commission you created to do the task, and as reviewed by your legal team. It is just worrisome that the matter has been reduced to whether accepting the BTC draft in its entirety or accepting the recommended modifications of your legal team,” the Lanao Peace Partnership said in an open letter to President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday.

The Lanao Peace Partnership is composed of Pailig Foundation Inc., MSU-IIT- Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao, EcoWeb Inc., Kapamagogopa Inc., Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace Inc.

The group has been involved in public consultations in Lanao areas, the result of which were submitted to the BTC as inputs in the drafting of BBL.

“We urge both panels and the BTC to complete the BBL with a thorough Constitutional test or transparent review with experts of the 1987 Constitution to make BBL’s endorsement, as a priority bill to congress, really possible,” the Lanao Peace Partnership said.

The group said they were looking forward to Aquino’s endorsement of the BBL before Congress when he delivers his State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 28.

The draft law was supposed to be submitted to Congress before it adjourned last month but was delayed by the review conducted by the Office of the President. It is targeted to be submitted to Congress after the SONA.

The BBL is the legal document of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed last March, a result of 17 years of negotiations in a bid to end decades-old conflict in Mindanao.