Leader of MNLF faction reiterates support for Bangsamoro Basic Law

The leader of a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front reiterated support for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, saying it is the "best chance to achieve peace in Mindanao" and to give the Bangsamoro people genuine autonomy.

 

“Ang BBL ang ating pinaka-mabisang batas upang maisakatuparan ang maayos at tunay na kasarinlan o otonomiya na hangad ng Bangsamoro sa nakaraang ilang dekada. Ang BBL ay naaayon sa ating Saligang Batas na nagsasaad ng karampatang otonomiya para sa Muslim Mindanao at makikinabang dito lahat ng Bangsamoro at lahat ng Pilipino,” Datu Abul Khayr Alonto said in a statement to the media on Friday.

 

At a public hearing in Patikul, Sulu earlier this week, a representative of the MNLF faction affiliated with its founding chairman Nur Misuari warned that passage of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-backed BBL will not bring peace if the MNLF is left out of the peace process.

"Instead of lasting peace, there will be lasting conflict," Habib Mujahab Hashim of the MNLF Islamic Command Council said.

 

Alonto, a founding leader of the MNLF and first vice chairman of the original MNLF Central Committee, said, however, that the MNLF and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim issued a joint communique in January supporting full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro that the government and the MILF signed in 2014.

 

He said both groups have pledged to "continue working together to foster strong Unity, Solidarity and Brotherhood as one Bangsamoro people."

 

“There is no alternative to BBL. If the BBL is not passed, many of our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters in the MILF will lose faith in the peaceful process of negotiating and implementing a peace agreement. They committed to transform into civilian life when the Bangsamoro is created. But, this will only happen if the CAB is fully realized,” Alonto added.

Alonto said in March 2014 that his group, which includes 35 of the 39 surviving mebers of the original MNLF Central Committee, supports the BBL and the creation of the Bangsamoro territory.

'Political power through peaceful means'
 

Chief government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said as early as 2013 that the two groups can vie for power within the proposed Bangsamoro territory. The MILF has already applied for accreditation for its regional party, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party.

 

“What we want to achieve is if they want political power, they will get it through peaceful means,” she said in October of that year.

 

“There will be space for all those who want to participate based on fair rules. We are optimistic that the Bangsamoro will grab this opportunity and will transcend personal, tribal, or organizational interests to bring about good governance for our people,” she also said. — JDS, GMA News