MILF optimistic BBL will pass Congress

COTABATO CITY—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it remained convinced that the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would hurdle the challenges, particularly those posed by the “vicious attacks” on the draft law.

“But despite all of the bad publicity, we are optimistic the BBL will pass Congress,” the MILF said in an editorial posted on its website, luwaran.com.

Its optimism, the MILF said, was anchored on the belief that “Congress as a body is made up of honorable gentlemen and ladies who have wisdom, foresight, and experience that it is the national interest of this country to solve the Bangsamoro problem now—not later.”

“We also believe that the leaderships in both Houses are committed to peace and the resolution of the conflict in Mindanao,” the editorial added.

Editorials posted on the MILF’s website are often written by senior rebel officials and echo the line of the rebel group’s central leadership.

While expressing optimism amid the “baseless and unfounded” criticisms, the MILF editorial said most of the comments or attacks from lawmakers “appeared to be full of appalling prejudices and willful distortion attached to it.”

“Many, if not most of the negative comments on the BBL, are borne out of ignorance of the proposed law and innate hatred for the Moros and the MILF,” the MILF said.

Another member of Congress the editorial did not name had a “wild claim.” The lawmaker, the editorial said, was quoted as saying that the BBL and the Bangsamoro government were only for the MILF.

“This is a gross misrepresentation, because the BBL and Bangsamoro government are for the peoples of the proposed political entity,” it said. The MILF stressed its role as an organization is only up to the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which it leads and this is only for one year.

“The one who will take the reign of government will be determined by elections,” it said. RC