Malacañang: Give BBL a chance
MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Sunday urged lawmakers to give the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) a chance as this remains the most viable instrument to attain lasting peace in Mindanao.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also appealed to the public to continue trusting President Aquino and the government reforms he had tried to institute following public outrage over the Mamasapano debacle that killed over 60 police commandos, Moro guerillas and civilians.
While Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” was neutralized in the operation, the police action nearly imperiled the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF).
“Certainly, the Mamasapano incident has… an effect on the deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). But, as the President said, we cannot lose focus on our fight for peace,” Lacierda said.
The peace agreement with the MILF is one of the cornerstones of the Aquino administration. The President has certified the BBL as one of his priority measures in Congress.
Some lawmakers have expressed apprehension over its passage as they blamed the MILF for the deaths of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who took part in the operation.
But as relieved SAF commander Director Getulio Napenas himself admitted, he bypassed the cease-fire mechanisms of the government and the MILF because he did not trust the military and the Moro group.
“Hopefully, we can see the passage of BBL being mindful of what has happened. If you feel that there is some need to deliberate and some need to improve BBL, let us deliberate, but let’s not forestall the passage of an instrument that could contribute to lasting peace in Mindanao,” Lacierda said, addressing the lawmakers.
Passing the draft bill into law would also ensure that the SAF commandos did not die in vain, Lacierda said.
The MILF said 18 of their fighters and five civilians living in the community where the encounter took place were killed.
IP support
In Davao City, a group pushing for the inclusion of the indigenous people’s rights in the proposed BBL appealed to Congress not to suspend or abort its passage into law.
The Mindanao People Peace Movement (MPPM) said “sobriety and reason” should prevail because war will never be the solution to the problem that once again threatens the fragile peace in Mindanao.
“While the BBL is not without its flaws, we don’t believe that suspending or aborting the process is the wise thing to do,” said Rodelio Ambangan, MPPM chair and Jane Pesons, MPPM secretary general, in a statement.
“We should not make the BBL the sacrificial lamb as a consequence of the violence in Mamasapano,” Pesons said.
MPPM said the path of peace should be chosen in demanding justice for those who have fallen in the Mamasapano encounter.
“Ordinary people and communities have placed their hopes on this peace process especially now that the BBL is undergoing deliberations in both houses of Congress,” the statement said.
The group demanded an independent inquiry to look into the events surrounding the incident and determine accountability.
“We appeal to some politicians, public figures and the warmongers to refrain from issuing provocative statements instigating war,” MPPM said.
BBL suspension
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), meanwhile, urged President Aquino to suspend the BBL and put the MILF leadership to task for the Mamasapano debacle.
Alan Tanjusay, TUCP spokesman, said the President should have suspended the BBL deliberations both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives until the MILF surrenders to Philippine authorities Abdul Basit Usman and the MILF commanders involved in the killing of the 44 police commandos.–Nikko Dizon with additional reports from Tina Santos, Germelina Lacorte and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao
