Palace: BBL is for building strong foundation for peace

Malacañang on Saturday said that the “lack of a strong foundation to establish lasting peace in Mindanao” was one reason there was a sense of urgency to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) during the term of President Aquino.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma that the Palace recognized the role of lawmakers to ensure the constitutionality of all laws that they passed, but argued that lawmakers should also “look at the bigger picture” and at the “national interest” at stake in building a foundation for peace.

“What we are also saying is it is important to pass this law because if we look at the bigger picture, it has been decades since there has been a solid foundation for lasting peace in Mindanao. That is why we have a sense of urgency [in passing the BBL]. That is the only reason why President Aquino is determined to see through the peace process during his term,” Coloma said over government-run Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma reiterated that the Palace was ready to listen to criticism and discuss the proposed BBL with lawmakers because what is important is “we reach an understanding and a consensus because our national interest is at stake.”

Coloma cited the recent Global Peace Index Report of the Institute for Economics and Peace where the Philippines was ranked 141st out of 162 countries.

According to Coloma, the report attributed the Philippines’ slide in ranking to the South China Sea dispute and the internal conflicts in the country.

He stressed that “achieving long-term peace, stability and progress in Mindanao was a top priority of the government.” The passage of the BBL would complete the political component of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed in March last year by the government and the MILF.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who led House committee discussions on the BBL, agreed with the Palace that Congress could not afford to fail in passing the BBL under the Aquino administration.

“It’s dangerous to wait for the next President because we don’t even know if he or she will want to pursue the peace process,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez raised the possibility of a deadlock between the House and the Senate on which version of the draft law to approve once the two chambers meet in a bicameral conference committee.

“The House will insist on our version, which is why we appeal to the Senate to take a look at the BBL instead of just amending Republic Act No. 9054,” Rodriguez said, referring to the law creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The BBL will create a new region for the Bangsamoro, replacing the ARMM and giving them greater autonomy and political rights.

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