It is better for the government and the MILF to continue the path of peace, which they have already invested so much, rather than go back to where they started, which is not only practical but also laden with dangers and uncertainties.
The difficulty they faced in coming up with an “agreed version” of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) can only be temporary. If they persevere and remain committed to solve the Bangsamoro Question, no obstacle, God willing! can stop their way. “If there is a will,” said an old adage, “there is a way.”
It is true that they have not beaten the most desirable time to submit the BBL, which is immediately after the State-of-the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III last July 28. But this is no reason to give up --- rather, there are more to proceed.
As a problem-solving exercise, however, the current discussion does not need finger-pointing. But it is not good either to just ignore the cause of the delay. Like the GPH’s 3-for-1 formula, which the MILF outright rejected, as an extraneous effort, the conservative or restrictive interpretation of the Constitution adopted by the Review Team of the Office of the President (OP) and the resort to the use of “concepts, words and terms” that are clearly alien to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and its Annexes, explained much of the difficulty. While we do not question intention, but the truth is that we do not know the wisdom either.
But after the President made known his inner thoughts during the meeting in Malacañang Palace involving the OP, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Department of Justice (DOJ), the Solicitor General Office, GPH Peace Panel, the Executive Secretary, and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC Chair Mohagher Iqbal was not present) last July 23 and in his SONA last July 28, one can safely say that he (President) is still fully committed to make peace with the MILF as his legacy. His limited reference to the BBL is simply an economy of words appropriate to the true state of the current discussion of the BBL.
Of course, not everybody was happy about the President’s limited reference to the BBL and how it could become a reality. We understand their positions, because most are coming from other standpoints. But as partners in the peace-making, the MILF has to be very objective in assessing the situation in reference to the difficulty confronting the Parties. We cannot ask for more from the President re: BBL in his SONA.
The road ahead still offers some promises. One good determining factor is that both Parties have expressed willingness to travel the extra miles to be able to produce a mutually agreed version of the BBL. All what is needed is a little time more; and more importantly, both sides must be truthful and faithful to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and its Annexes, which is the basis of the BBL.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/1120-easier-to-proceed
It is true that they have not beaten the most desirable time to submit the BBL, which is immediately after the State-of-the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III last July 28. But this is no reason to give up --- rather, there are more to proceed.
As a problem-solving exercise, however, the current discussion does not need finger-pointing. But it is not good either to just ignore the cause of the delay. Like the GPH’s 3-for-1 formula, which the MILF outright rejected, as an extraneous effort, the conservative or restrictive interpretation of the Constitution adopted by the Review Team of the Office of the President (OP) and the resort to the use of “concepts, words and terms” that are clearly alien to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and its Annexes, explained much of the difficulty. While we do not question intention, but the truth is that we do not know the wisdom either.
But after the President made known his inner thoughts during the meeting in Malacañang Palace involving the OP, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Department of Justice (DOJ), the Solicitor General Office, GPH Peace Panel, the Executive Secretary, and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC Chair Mohagher Iqbal was not present) last July 23 and in his SONA last July 28, one can safely say that he (President) is still fully committed to make peace with the MILF as his legacy. His limited reference to the BBL is simply an economy of words appropriate to the true state of the current discussion of the BBL.
Of course, not everybody was happy about the President’s limited reference to the BBL and how it could become a reality. We understand their positions, because most are coming from other standpoints. But as partners in the peace-making, the MILF has to be very objective in assessing the situation in reference to the difficulty confronting the Parties. We cannot ask for more from the President re: BBL in his SONA.
The road ahead still offers some promises. One good determining factor is that both Parties have expressed willingness to travel the extra miles to be able to produce a mutually agreed version of the BBL. All what is needed is a little time more; and more importantly, both sides must be truthful and faithful to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and its Annexes, which is the basis of the BBL.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/1120-easier-to-proceed
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