Despite setbacks, MILF still upbeat BBL will pass

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) says it remains optimistic that Congress will pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) despite the many challenges it faces.

“Despite all the bad publicity, we are optimistic the BBL will pass Congress,” the MILF said in an editorial posted on its website, luwaran.com.

Its optimism, the MILF said, was anchored on the belief that “Congress as a body is made up of honorable gentlemen and ladies who have wisdom, foresight and experience [and] that it is [in] the national interest of this country to solve the Bangsamoro problem now—not later.”

“We also believe that the leaderships of both houses [of Congress] are committed to peace and the resolution of the conflict in Mindanao,” the editorial added.

Editorials posted on the MILF’s website are often written by senior rebel officials and echo the line of the rebel group’s central leadership.

The MILF editorial, however, noted that most of the comments or attacks from lawmakers “appeared to be full of appalling prejudices and willful distortion…”

“Many, if not most of the negative comments on the BBL, are born out of ignorance of the proposed law and an innate hatred of the Moros and the MILF,” it said.

According to the editorial, another member of Congress whom it did not name has a “wild claim” that the BBL and the Bangsamoro government are only for the MILF.

“This is a gross misrepresentation because the BBL and Bangsamoro government are for the peoples of the proposed political entity,” it said.

The MILF stressed its role as an organization was only up to the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, which it will lead for only one year.

“The one who will take the reins of government will be determined by elections,” it said. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao