Retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilarion Davide. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. told the House of Representatives on Monday that the botched Mamasapano incident should not be the reason to stop the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Davide, a member of the Peace Council formed by President Benigno Aquino III to study the BBL, said the bill should push through despite the involvement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the killing of 44 police commandos during the incident last January 25.
The former Chief Justice said the talks for peace should come after the passage of the bill and not after. He added that regaining trust in the MILF should start by pursuing the peace process and not by terminating it over the incident.
“The real work of peace comes after the agreement and not before… The first way to establish trust is to pursue the peace process and proceeding with the BBL. It does not have to mean the Mamasapano should be forgotten or set aside,” Davide said.
“Peace and justice need not be exclusive… A peace agreement must first be established so that parties are in common legal regime… Once the BBL is passed, the questions (about Mamasapano) can be under a special and legal regime established under the BBL or outside of it,” Davide said.
Apart from Davide, other members of the peace council are Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Howard Dee and Muslim Princess Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman.
The task of the council’s leaders from seven sectors is to help the public understand the peace process, and consequently the Bangsamoro bill, which seeks to implement the peace deal with the MILF by creating a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro entity.
The House panel is conducting its last public hearing over the bill Monday. It is set to vote for its passage on May 11 to 12.