Ano ang Bangsamoro Basic Law? Alamin kay Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer ngayong Biernes, ika-23 ng Oktubre, sa Kapihan sa Media ng Bayan. Isasahimpapawid sa PBS-Radyo ng Bayan at ipapalabas sa ptv.ph sa ganap na 10:30 am ang Kapihan sa Media ng Bayan. Masusundan din ang usapan sa Twitter (@MediaNgBayan at @PTVph).
News Release mula sa OPAPP:
22 October 2015
CEBU CITY – Continuing his appeal for the passage of the
Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal highlighted that it is the solution to ending
the internal armed conflict in Mindanao and promoting peace and national unity
among Filipinos.
“The best way to move forward is to pursue the path of peace. We
don’t want war [to happen again] and we don’t want it to continue anymore.
[T]he BBL is a priority bill, nay an administration bill, that seeks to
establish peace in Mindanao,” Iqbal said in a roundtable discussion with media
held Monday in this city.
“Every one of us can help because the passage of the BBL is of
national interest,” he said. “After more than 42 years of armed conflict, and
of 17 years of long, hard, and harsh negotiations, then the government has to
[exhaust] all possible extra efforts and measures to get the law passed.”
The MILF chief peace negotiator reaffirmed the rebel group’s
commitment in the peace process despite delays in the passage of the BBL as
well as its continued trust on the commitment made by Congress’ leadership to
pass a law that would embody the Bangsamoro aspiration for autonomy without
diminishing the current powers enjoyed by the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM).
“We
never say die [in lobbying for the passage of the BBL]. Congress can do it,”
Iqbal said. “[T]he role of the [Bangsamoro] Transition Commission which I
happen to head has been consistently and tirelessly monitoring the progress...
[of] the deliberations of the BBL in the halls of Congress.”
Government
of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel chair Prof. Miriam Coronel–Ferrer stressed
that the support and participation of every Filipino on the success of the
Bangsamoro peace process is important.
“The
BBL is not just for the MILF but for all of us. People want the peace process
to be 100% risk-free, but part of it is a leap of faith out of good
intentions,” Ferrer said. “Our appeal is to have the faith with us so that we
will have the best results.”
Ferrer
added that the passage of the BBL will lessen the problems of the next
president as the proposed law will correct the structural problems within ARMM.
"Our challenge to the next President, do you want to inherit a problem or
the solution? Let's give peace a chance," she said.
Debunking ridiculous claims on the BBL
The
government chief negotiator noted that delays in the passage of the BBL are
partly due to misinformation circulated immediately after the Mamasapano
incident.
“After
the Mamasapano tragedy, political opponents of the current administration used
the BBL to derail the peace process while some politicians continue to use this
as a platform to bolster their 2016 election campaign,” she said.
Ferrer
debunked some claims as simply ridiculous. These include conspiracy theories
that the BBL caters to Malaysia’s vested interests on Mindanao particularly the
claim on Sabah and that the proposed law will lead to secession led by the MILF
in which Ferrer cleared that the main aim of the peace talks is to stop the war
and institute the needed reforms in order to achieve national unity.
“The MILF has committed to observe the ceasefire and undergo
decommissioning of weapons and combatants while other groups continue to use
violent and indiscriminate means. They remain committed to the peace process
despite the delay on the passage of the BBL,” she said.
She also clarified that there is nothing unconstitutional in the
BBL, noting that the key features and structural changes in the draft law are
all within the flexibilities of the Philippine Constitution.
Ferrer
also emphasized the inclusivity of the Bangsamoro law. “The BBL is not just for
the MILF. It protects the rights and welfare of all inhabitants of the
prospective Bangsamoro.”
For
his part, Iqbal noted that delays on the passage of the BBL can also be blamed
on on misperceptions and prejudices against Muslims.
“[L]egislators
wanted to change the BBL because of these fears and prejudices. [This is] not
only [because of] what happened in Mamasapano but also about the [the fear of
giving the Bangsamoro with] a lot of authority, if given a lot of power and
autonomy,” Iqbal said.
“[M]istrust,
biases, and prejudices, fear and paranoia against Muslims or Moros have created
much opinion on the Christian majority population including so-called
intelligentsia, Church-people, media pundits, and media networks and that this
bias is at the heart of the rejection of any BBL.”
Iqbal added that the “only…lasting legacy President Aquino can
give to our people especially those in Mindanao is lasting peace through the
passage of BBL.” ###
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