MILF starts Congress lobby for passage of Bangsamoro Law

From the Daily Tribune (Jun 30): MILF starts Congress lobby for passage of Bangsamoro Law

He said Jaafar gave his assurance that the BBL will benefit not only the Bangsamoro people but the entire nation as well “because it will usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for Mindanao and the Philippines.”

Nograles added that in that meeting, he made his personal guarantee to Jaafar that he is definitely for the immediate passage of the BBL and even made his commitment that he would help in convincing his colleagues to also support the measure.

 The Bangsamoro Basic Law would create the Bangsamoro Region which will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is passed by Congress and ratified by the people in a plebiscite.

The plebiscite for the envisioned Bangsamoro region will cover ARMM; six municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Pantar, Nunungan, Tagaloan and Tangkal in Lanao del Norte; 39 villages in North Cotabato, and the cities of Cotabato and Isabela.

The five provinces in the ARMM include: Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan.

Nograles said the BBL could set the stage for a stronger national movement in the pursuit for a federal and parliamentary form of government.

“I expressed my support for the BBL because if this is made possible, then such will be a precursor to a shift towards a Federal and Parliamentary form of government for our country which I as a Mindanaoan fully support and advocate. What is good for the Bangsamoro people must be good for all Filipinos, equally, without distinction,” Nograles noted.

“I added that as people from Mindanao, we all share the concern that more development and more services must be poured into Mindanao, and because we are an island rich with resources then whatever we reap as a people must be poured back first for the development of our people; that is only fair and just; and that can only be achieved under a federal parliamentary form of government,” he said.

According to Nograles, the BBL is a “test case” for a federalized government and a proving ground for the Bangsamoro people in their ability to take the lead in bringing peace and progress in Mindanao.

“But the same must also be made equally available, beneficial and functional for the entire country,” he said.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/milf-starts-congress-lobby-for-passage-of-bangsamoro-law