Stay course on BBL, envoys urge

IN A SHOW of unity, foreign ambassadors and heads of missions in the Philippines called on the government to stay engaged in the Mindanao peace process, amid the delay in the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Ambassadors from at least 15 embassies and representatives from five other missions each read parts of a joint statement before the media in a gathering in Makati City.

“We share a common aim with the people of the Philippines to work toward a just and lasting peace in Mindanao,” they said in the statement. “We express our solid support…  to the continuity of the peace process in our common interest.”

“We call on all concerned to remain engaged in the peace process to give life to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and to the long term political, economic and social pillars that will bring a peace dividend to the country as a whole.”

Among the envoys were William Tweddell of Australia, Neil Reeder of Canada, Asif Ahmad of the UK, Thomas Ossowski of Germany, Erik Førner of Norway, Stella de Araneta of Colombia, Jan Top Christensen of Denmark, Laurent Legodec of France, Marion Derckx of the  Netherlands, Luis Calvo of Spain, Martinus Slabber of South Africa and Jaroslav Olša Jr. of the Czech Republic.

The ambassadors of the European Union,   Italy, Japan and the United States were absent but were sent copies of the unity statement to sign.

Asked what prompted the ambassadors to issue such a statement, Ahmad said

the call was not meant to pressure the Philippine government.

“This is an encouragement to work on this no matter what it takes,” Ahmad said. “We encourage the people to stay true to the process despite anything that might happen politically in the electoral cycle. That’s the business of the Philippines.”

Efforts to promote peace in Mindanao suffered a blow when 44 Special Action Force commandos were killed in a clash with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25.

A lack of quorum in Congress has also posed an obstacle to the passage of the BBL, which would establish a new autonomous political entity known as the Bangsamoro.

The ambassadors’ statement appears to be a reminder to the  lawmakers.

“We are involved in this. Any part of the world that is insecure is a magnet for extremism and for violence,” Ahmad said.