PNoy unfazed by delays, sees Bangsamoro peace process completed as envisioned

From InterAksyon (Aug 17): PNoy unfazed by delays, sees Bangsamoro peace process completed as envisioned



The Bangsamoro Road Map, as rendered by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Amid a call to speed up the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law to embody the key agreements of the government with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, President Benigno Aquino III told TV5 he remains confident that a sound, just and comprehensive law will be the outcome of the entire process.

He aired his views in an exclusive interview just five days before he is scheduled to receive from his legal advisers the draft of a bill that he will then pitch to Congress, for a Bangsamoro Basic Law to be enacted hopefully early in 2015.

He likened the delays - blamed by some on the length it's taking Palace lawyers to go through the draft provided by the transitional council after the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro - to the tedious process of ensuring the "devil in the details" is anticipated and addressed in order to avoid legal questions later.

In an exclusive interview last Aug. 13 with Atty. Mel Sta. Maria, TV5 resident legal analyst,  which will air at 10 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 17), Aquino said, speaking mostly in Filipino:

"Well, when we entered into this process, we never said that anything we asked for would automatically happen. We all really have to persevere and be patient. But I am optimistic of the future. Why? Because even now --and right after the signing of the CAB - the MILF has been fulfilling many of their commitments to us."

He cited as example of the MILF's fidelity to its word its acts of helping the government track down wanted criminals that had taken refuge in its areas.

Moreover, he said the MILF repeatedly helped calm down their constituents in times when tensions were rising over one incident or issue: "May mga panahon na pwedeng nagkaroon ng tensyon o napataas ang tensyon, sumama sila sa pagpapababa nung tensyon. So, palagay ko yung lahat nung nakalagay sa Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro e nandun pa rin ho at mas matibay pa.

[There were times when tension could have gone out of hand, but they helped bring this down. So, in my view everything placed in the CAB is still there and has been honored and is being strengthened]."

He said the Bangsamoro leaders apparently realize it's not just the President who will be put to shame if the peace process fails: "Sila rin ang mapapahiya. Yung mga umaasa e madidismaya. Marami na hong nagtutulong tulong para mangyari ito [They will also lose face. All those who have pinned their hopes on this will be dismayed. Many people have staked so much, helping out to make sure this is pursued to its end]."

He acknowledged that threshing out finer details in any agreement is always tedious.

"Para bang nagkakaintindihan tayo pero gusto nating maging napaka-comprehensive nitong basic law na wala nang makwestyon o wala nang kailangang imbentuhin pa pagdating ng panahon [It's like we all have an understanding that we want a very comprehensive basic law that no one can question or will not need to be revised in the future]."

PNoy getting draft on Monday

The President, according to Palace officials Sunday, will receive from his legal advisers on Monday (Aug. 18) the draft bill they reviewed that worked in the discussion over 10 days of the original government peace panel and the MILF in Davao from Aug. 1-10.

The review meetings were called amid mounting concern that the draft bill might not faithfully reflect the fundamental provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed last year.

The President will act quickly on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) once he receives it, Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Sunday, and submit the draft law to Congress, giving the latter time to pass the law early 2015.

The Palace is following the roadmap and timetable for setting up a Bangsamoro Transitional Assembly, and the elections of officers of the Bangsamoro Political Entity - which is expected to be held along with elections of 2016, Coloma added.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/93470/pnoy-unfazed-by-delays-sees-bangsamoro-peace-process-completed-as-envisioned