BBL or no BBL, Malacañang vows to continue quest for Mindanao peace

Amid the impending “death” of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law in Congress, the Aquino administration vowed Friday that it will continue to push for the Mindanao peace process and urge stakeholders to give peace a chance.

 

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said whatever the final decision of the lawmakers would be on the proposed bill, Malacañang will still advance the peace process.

 

“Ano man ang pinal na kahihinatnan ng panukalang BBL, hindi natitinag ang determinasyon ng pamahalaan sa pagtataguyod sa prosesong pangkapayapaan at paghimok sa lahat ng stakeholders ‘to give peace a chance’,” he said in a text message to reporters.

 

Chief government negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer said the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front representatives will meet on what they will do to protect the gains of the peace process.

 

“The two panels will meet on adjustments we’ll need to make in our road map and how we can protect the gains of the peace process especially with regard to the ceasefire and the socio-economic programs,” she said in a text message to GMA News Online.

 

“Even without a BBL, we still have Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro to carry through,” Ferrer said, referring to the peace agreement signed by the government and MILF in 2014 after years of peace talks.

 

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and Senate President Franklin Drilon said Thursday that the BBL under the term of President Benigno Aquino III is dead.

 

Drilon placed the blame on the Mamasapano incident for the failure of the Senate to pass the measure.

 

"Let's put the record straight. We were on the way to the approval of the BBL. The committee hearings were going smooth until the Mamasapano incident took place," Drilon said.

 

More than 60 people — including 44 policemen — were killed on January 25, 2015 when the PNP Special Action Force and armed men from the MILF, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups clashed in a known MILF territory in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

 

"In fairness to the legislature, we did our best but you can operate only in a political environment conducive to the passage of this bill," Drilon said.

 

"Unfortunately, after the Mamasapano incident, the environment became very toxic. I can say that I think the BBL is the 45th victim in Mamasapano," he added, referring to the 44 policemen who were killed in the incident. — APG, GMA News