Palace downplays reports on imminent death of Bangsamoro law

Malacañang on Friday allayed fears that the peace process would no longer prosper as there was little time left to pass the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., during a media interview, said, “Kung ano man ang pinal na kahihinatnan ng panukalang Bangsamoro Basic Law, hindi natitinag ang determinasyon ni Pangulong Aquino na itaguyod ang prosesong pangkapayapaan (Whatever the outcome, President Benigno Aquino III is determined to uphold the peace process).”

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Friday admitted that it was almost impossible to pass the BBL.

“Representative Balindong has other angles, but no question that it (BBL) won’t become a law even if we pass our version. The Senate has not been acting on it,” Belmonte said, referring to House Deputy Speaker Pangalian Balindong, who said he had “closed the book of hope for the passage of the Bangsamoro basic law.”

READ: Speaker Belmonte: BBL has no chance in current Congress

But Coloma said the administration was working hard to achieve the high level of awareness on the need to maintain peace and order.

“Kaya mahalaga na mapanatili ‘yung pagiging mahinahon at pagiging mapagrespeto sa isa’t isa ang mga partidong involved dito sa nabuong kasunduan hinggil sa Bangsamoro at patuloy pa rin ‘yung pakikipagdiyalogo sa lahat ng mga sektor, sa lahat ng mga may sangkot o partisipasyon dito, dahil nasa interes naman ng lahat na itaguyod pa rin ‘yung prosesong pangkapayapaan (That is why it is important to remain calm and respectful of each other when it comes to the Bangsamoro agreement. And we should also continue holding dialogues with all sectors and all those involved because all of us have a stake in upholding the peace process),” he said.

The secretary said Aquino already stated that even if the whole process was not implemented, he believed that the “momentum for peace” would continue and be hard to stop.

“Mayroon na at umani na tayo ng malawak na suporta mula sa maraming bansa, at maging ang mga ibang bansa na lumalahok dito sa prosesong pangkapayapaan, tiyak na ipaparating nila sa lahat ng mga may taya rito ‘yung kahalagahan na kailangang ipagpatuloy ito (We have wide support from many countries, even other nations undergoing peace process. They will surely impress upon everyone that this is important and it should push through),” Coloma said.

Asked if the failure to pass the BBL in Congress would dampen Aquino’s chances of leaving his own legacy, Coloma merely said the President had always been determined to pursue the peace process.

It wouldn’t be “back to zero,” he said, if the Bangsamoro law became the responsibility of the next administration.

“Sinoman ang magiging susunod na Pangulo ay tiyak na kikilalanin niya na malaking progreso na ang natamo rito at hindi nga magiging makatuwiran na aatras pa tayo (Whoever will succeed as President will recognize that we have achieved a lot through the peace process and it wouldn’t be reasonable to regress),” he said. RC