The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction of
Chairman Nur Misuari yesterday defended its absence at the congressional
hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law
(BBL) by reiterating its independence from the Philippine government,
thus it does not recognize any proceedings on the BBL.
Lawyer
Emmanuel Fontanilla, spokesman for the MNLF Misuari faction, stressed that the MNLF would only participate in
proceedings to be facilitated by the powerful Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC).
“We don’t
recognize the Philippine government, we declared our independence,” Fontanilla
told The Tribune.
Fontanilla
said that the MNLF is continuously pursuing its independence under the
Bangsamoro Republik through peaceful means.
On Wednesday, the House of Representative ad hoc committee
on BBL, chaired by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, held a public hearing
on the BBL being pushed by the government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
There were, however, representatives from other factions of
the MNLF who attended the hearing, namely, Datu Khayr Alonto and Muslimin Sema.
Alonto has expressed full support to the BBL while Sema
branded the proposed law as partial fulfillment of the 1996 Final Peace
Agreement and the 1976 Tripoli Agreement between the government and the MNLF.
During the hearing, Zamboanga City Mayor Isabel
Climaco-Salazar expressed opposition to the proposed inclusion of Zamboanga City
MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, who also chairs the
Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), stressed that the MILF is continuously
reaching out to all for the passage of the BBL.
Rodriguez called on the Moro groups to coordinate their acts
for the smooth passage of the BBL.
At the same time, Rodriguez assured the public that the
Congress will pass a BBL compliant within the Constitution.
Relatedly, Fontanilla stressed the MILF’s stance that it is
too early to discuss the constitutionality of the BBL at present.
He said the MILF is just aware that the BBL cannot pass
congressional scrutiny.
“That is feigning absence of knowledge of reality. They know
it will not pass and they are evading the issue,” Fontanilla said.
In a statement over its website earlier, the MILF appealed
to the public not to make hasty statements over the constitutionality of the
BBL that may spark negative reactions.
The MILF stressed that the constitutionality of the BBL,
agreed upon by the MILF and the GPH, falls under the authority of the Supreme
Court.
“We therefore appeal to all and sundry especially leaders
not to make hasty pronouncements that would agitate negative reactions from the
people,” the MILF said.
“The issue of constitutionality of any provision of the BBL
is in the domain of the Supreme Court. We are not yet there,” the MILF pointed
out.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have noted
that some provisions of the BBL could be considered unconstitutional.
Representatives from MNLF factions and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) served as resource persons during the 35th public
hearing conducted by the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee on the BBL
last January 20 at the Batasan complex. Leaders of the Federation of Sultanates
were also present as well as Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID)
President Amina Rasul.?
Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon asked resource persons from
the two Moro fronts on the possibility of “reconciling their differences (on
the BBL).”
Biazon reiterated the need for compromise among the diverse
Muslim communities, Christian settlers, and Indigenous Peoples in the proposed
Bangsamoro territory, as the Congress will pass only one law.
Ad hoc committee chairman Rufus Rodriguez, Representative of
the second district of Cagayan de Oro City, mentioned that there is the
Bangsamoro Coordination Forum (BCF) under the auspices of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The BCF serves as the mechanism for the MNLF and
MILF to “coordinate their movements toward achieving the aspiration of the
Bangsamoro people towards just and lasting peace, and peaceful resolution of
their problems.”
Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong underscored that “reconciliation (in
opinions or interests) is a challenge to all of us.”
He meant that even Muslims and Bangsamoro lawmakers in the
House of Representatives should also be part of the effort to forge unity among
the Bangsamoro groups “to come up with a solid position so the Ad Hoc Committee
will not face hardships in passing the BBL.”
Loong, the chair of the Committee of Muslim Affairs,
suggested that he will invite the Moro fronts for a discussion on issues on the
Bangsamoro bill. Citing optimism that Bangsamoro groups can sit down together,
he asked time for the discussion to happen so that the Moro fronts can “come to
common ground.”
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