Failure to pass BBL not a reason to stop Bangsamoro agreement celebration

Peace panel head Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said during her speech at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City. KRISTINE ANGELI SABILLO/INQUIRER.net

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—”Hindi binubura ng isang kabiguan ang lahat ng nakamtan (One failure should not erase everything that we have achieved).”

This was the message of the Philippine government’s peace panel head on Monday, during the second anniversary celebration of Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

In March 27, 2014, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the CAB at the Malacañang Palace. A proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was crafted to implement some of the provisions of the CAB, which ended the decades-long conflict between the government and the rebel group.

READ: GPH-MILF peace panels meet in KL after non-passage of BBL

However, the BBL was stalled in Congress because legislators were critical of the peace process. It was further stalled when more than 60 people died during the infamous Mamasapano botched operation in January 2015.

Peace panel head Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said during her speech at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City that while the failure to pass the BBL, which paves the way for the creation of a new Bangsamoro political entity, was a heavy blow to the peace process, it shouldn’t be considered a complete failure of the negotiations.

READ: MILF admits frustration amid Bangsamoro agreement’s 2nd anniv

“I disagree with those who are saying we have nothing to celebrate because we did not get the BBL,” she said, pointing out that the peace process has recovered several times even after it broke down.

“Ipagdiwang natin ang mga kaguluhang naiwasan, ang mga buhay at ari ariang napangalagaan,” she said.

(Let us celebrate the fact that we were able to avert conflict and save the lives and property of the people.)

Coronel-Ferrer said stakeholders should draw strength from each other instead of pointing fingers.

“Let us make more friends. Let us not make our friends our enemies,” she said.

The panel chair further explained that the peace process does not only involve the MILF but also includes the lives of other Filipinos.

“We call on our politicians, decision- and opinion-makers to know more about the Bangsamoro and the peace process,” she said.

Addressing those running for public office in the upcoming May national elections, she said: “To those who will be elected, it will be your duty or obligation to continue this process.” RAM