BBL draws support from military

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday expressed support for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“Yes. We are in support of the BBL,” AFP chief General Gregorio Catapang Jr. told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday.

He did not suggest, however, any proposed changes to the BBL.

“You know it’s up to Congress. I’m not in a position to comment on that but we just allow our Congress to pass the law and I know they are intelligent enough. They have the power to pass the law… We are just here to support the law, the passage of that bill into a law and hopefully that will bring peace in Mindanao,” Catapang said.

On Monday, the AFP and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos signed a memorandum of agreement “to launch various peace programs.”

The NCMF is a government agency under the Office of the President tasked to provide assistance to Muslim Filipinos; monitor and evaluate programs; and undertake studies for policy formulation.

The programs include Peace Radio to magnify the issues concerning Muslim Filipinos that need immediate intervention and highlight the programs of the NCMF, AFP and the national government; the Muslim Youth Peace Leadership Camp and other programs to encourage the participation of the Muslim youth in the community; and the enhancement of cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness among AFP personnel to increase the understanding and awareness of the AFP on the Muslim culture.

“This MOA drives us to work closer together to attain peace, progress and prosperity. I speak with great gratitude for both parties’ intent to commit to various programs and events that will advance our mandate of cultivating the peace and development in the Muslim-Filipino communities,” Catapang said.

“Winning the peace in Mindanao is the focus of the AFP. The unfortunate Mamasapano incident will never deter us to win the peace in Mindanao. I would like to say also we will not only win the peace because you know peace is relative. It’s because you can have all the peace agreement in the world but if there is no progress, there is no prosperity, peace is in a very volatile situation,” he added.

The MOA is seen to provide equal opportunity to Muslim communities in the Philippines.

“This is for them to feel that they are not left out. So this initiative is to go to even to the remotest of places and reach out to them,” said Yasmin Busran-Lao, Secretary of the NCMF.

She said the communities will be given access to basic services because lack of access to food, education, health, among others is tantamount to injustice.

“Our agreement today is not just to ensure armed conflict is controlled or contained but their overall lifestyle will be changed,” she said. AC