MANILA, Philippines—With the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in Congress, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has expressed support for the measure that could resolve the conflict in Mindanao.
General Gregorio Pio Catapang, AFP Chief of Staff, is hopeful that the passage of the BBL, and subsequently the creation of a Bangsamoro entity to replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, would give Mindanao the peace that eluded it for almost four decades.
“The AFP welcomes the announcement of the President that the BBL will be submitted to Congress this week,” Catapang said Wednesday.
“We believe that the successful implementation of the peace process with the eventual establishment of the Bangsamoro will provide the political solution that will end the four-decade conflict in Mindanao.”
Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. AFP PUBLIC AFFAIRS
President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday submitted the draft of the BBL to Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte in Malacañang.
During his fifth State of the Nation Address, Aquino appealed o the legislature to approve bill by the end of 2014 to allow time for the transition from ARMM to the Bangsamoro.
In March, the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the BBL is part of the agreement.
Catapang said that the Philippine military has supported the peace process for Mindanao, saying that peace cannot be attained through pure military action.
He added that the passage of the BBL could finally end the conflict that pitted Filipinos against each other.
“By enacting the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, a just and lasting peace will finally dawn in Mindanao ending more than 40 years of fighting between Filipinos versus Filipinos,” Catapang said.
During the turnover in Malacañang, Drilon also expressed his optimism towards the BBL.
“We are confident that we will pass the measure,” Drilon said.
Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, AFP Public Affairs Office Chief, said the military has supported the BBL since the beginning of the talks between the Philippine government and the MILF.
“Throughout the peace talks, the AFP has expressed its support for the process as it has said that ‘the same suffering, misery, and misfortune that our people feel every time armed conflicts arise,'” Zagala said.
“With this political solution, the sacrifices of more than 150,000 Filipinos who perished in this strife would not be in vain,” Catapang said.
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