MANILA, Philippines—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is considering going to the United Nations (UN) in case the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is delayed or watered down.
“We have options lined up and that includes going to the UN to resolve it through peaceful means,” MILF vice chair Ghazali Jaafar said on Wednesday at a news conference.
“I am not saying that’s what we would do but it’s one of the options,” he added.
But he clarified that this yet has to be decided by the MILF central committee.
Congress has earlier agreed to pass the BBL by June 30, but its fate became uncertain after the Mamasapano incident on Jan. 25. The lawmakers have agreed to amend the BBL to ensure its constitutionality.
The botched operation targeting top terrorists in Maguindanao had killed 44 police officers, 18 MILF and five civilians. The bloody encounter had been blamed on the lack of coordination between the security forces and the MILF.
The government and the MILF signed a peace agreement last year after four decades of armed conflict.
Delays on the passage of the BBL have caused some MILF members to become impatient on the negotiations and it is possible for them to join breakaway groups, Jaafar said.
He said the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters bolted from the MILF because they had lost their faith on the peaceful negotiations.
“It’s not impossible for some groups to feel anxious because the talks have been dragging on for a long time … In President Benigno Aquino we believe in his seriousness and sincerity to resolve this Bangsamoro issue,” he said.
He emphasized that they would not accept a watered down BBL, saying the law should have “teeth” and “strength.”
“Ang emphasis namin ay maaprubahan maging batas ang BBL but that law meron ngipin, may lakas … We will not accept a watered down BBL,” he said.
The MILF official also said that once the issue on the Bangsamoro is resolved the government could focus on other issues such as dealing with the Communist Party of the Philippines. RC