Bangsamoro Basic Law needs to be passed to assure long lasting peace in Mindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 30): Bangsamoro Basic Law needs to be passed to assure long lasting peace in Mindanao

The government should pass the earliest possible time the Bangsamoro Basic Law that will serve as the backbone of the peace negotiation with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to avoid jeopardizing other peace keeping efforts, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon on Wednesday said.

Biazon, chairman of the House committee on National Defense and Security urged the Transition Commission (TransCom) to expedite the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law to show sincerity that the Aquino administration wanted to push long lasting peace in Mindanao.

“Kailangang maisumite kaagad sa Kongreso at dapat maging batas within at least 2014. Kung pwede at least, bago matapos ang taon o di kaya first quarter ng susunod na taon, para maisabatas namin," Biazon said in a telephone interview.

According to Biazon, if the law will be passed on 2015 or in the 1st quarter of 2016, President Aquino will have no more time to supervise the transition period.

“Hindi natin alam kung ano ang pag-iisip ng susunod na presidente. Baka masayang itong effort ni President Aquino at ibasura lang ng papalit sa kanya," Biazon pointed out.

Biazon he is now drafting a resolution for the creation of an adhoc committee to discuss the issues hounding the Bangsamoro law after the TransCom headed by MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal submits the proposed law.

The Muntinlupa City lawmaker said the committee will be composed of chairmen of various appropriate panels, including the defense, House committees on local government, justice, and revision of law.

"Kasi sa panukalang batas, apat ang babantayan dyan na topic o agenda. Una, ano ang magiging hugis ng ipapanukalang government structure ng ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao). Pangalawa, ayon ba sa Constitution? Pangatlo, hatian ng kapangyarihan sa national and ARMM government at pang-apat, hatian ng natural resources. May isa pa, ano ang uri ng national security organization na itatayo sa ilalim ng ARMM," he explained.

Last February, President Aquino named the 15-man TransCom through Executive Order 120. The members of TransCom from the MILF includes Iqbal, Robert Alonto, Abdulla Camlian, Ibrahim Ali, Raissa Jajurie, Melanio U. Ulama, Hussein Munoz and Said Shiek.

The seven-man government contingent groups are Akmad Sakkam, Johaira Wahab, Talib Benito, Asani Tammang, Pedrito Eisma, Froilyn Mendoza and Fatmawati Salapuddin.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=581658