A multi-sectoral rally was held at Pikit, North Cotabato on February 10, 2015 with a crowd of 56,563 individuals calling for the immediate passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). This figure was as of 11:50 A.M., according to organizer’s secretariat. It was a conglomeration of tri-people in North Cotabato composed of the Islamized Bangsamoro, the non-Islamized Bangsamoro or sometimes called Indigenous Peoples or Lumads, and the settlers or those whose ancestors originated from Luzon and the Visayas.
The Mindanao Alliance for Peace (MAP) headed by its president, Dr. Abdulmanan Gayak spearheaded the simultaneous peace rally in Mindanao and in Quezon City. The rally in Poblacion Pikit, North Cotabato was one of largest gathering of people ever held in the said town that called for support and immediate passage of the BBL.
Among the early speakers was North Cotabato Board Member Dulia Sultan. She said, “In the Mamasapano incident, there were both government troopers and MILF troopers killed, hence, we should not be one sided on the issue. Let us not be unjust, for history proved that the Moros were the first victims of war and injustices. Pikit Vice Mayor Mangansakan said: “ I have experienced all out wars under late President Ferdinand Marcos and President Joseph Estrada, and in the latter, he had spent 1.7 billion pesos. So, let us not quarrel, nor blame each other”.
A representative from the youth said, ”I am saddened by the death of both government’s SAF and MILF’s BIAF and the civilians as well.But killing the BBL is tantamount to killing the future of Bangsamoro youth. A farmer representative appealed to Congress to hasten the enactment of the BBL emphasizing that in that way they can work in their farms without fear and apprehensions.
A representative of the professional sector recalled, “The peace negotiation took the GPH-MILF Peace panels 17 years to come up with an agreement and the BBL is a product of that long negotiation. The Mamasapano tragedy has no connection whatsoever to the proposed Basic Law, hence, it must be passed soonest possible time. The proposed Bangsamoro Government when entrenched is an initial step towards peace, harmony and development in Mindanao region”.
A lumad representative, Bai Magdalena Suha of the Matigsalog tribe commented that the Mamasapano incident was not a massacre because the SAFs that were not killed in their respective homes but were killed in an area known to be lairs of Moro rebels. She called on everyone to set aside censures and instead let us work together for the early passage of the BBL. Representative of the labor sector appealed to the legislators to support and pass the BBL.
In a lengthy message of the women sector’s representative, she said, “The initial peace that we experienced due to the peace process and the sincere implementation of the ceasefire agreement had brought us a very tangible progress in North Cotabato, how much more if everlasting peace is achieved?
“We are also saddened by the death of 44 SAF because we are mothers, sisters and wives who have imagined the emotions and situations brought about by the death of their loved ones. Let us not listen to the call for all-out-war by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. Let us push forward the one and only solution to the Mindanao conflict the “Bangsamoro Basic Law”, she further said.
It is not all-out-war, not impeachment of PNoy but passage of the BBL is the solution to the crisis. She appealed to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to reconsider their decisions. A settler (Christian) member of the G-7 Barangays also called the “zone of peace” in North Cotabato joined the call for support to the BBL as a way towards lasting peace.
The religious group represented by Ustadz Abdulgani Tumalao scoured on every one’s heart to be persevered and disciplined as our search for lasting peace is like Gold where no hot sun can prevent us.
http://www.luwaran.net/index.php/welcome/item/762-pikit-multi-sectoral-rally-calls-on-congress-to-enact-bangsamoro-law
Among the early speakers was North Cotabato Board Member Dulia Sultan. She said, “In the Mamasapano incident, there were both government troopers and MILF troopers killed, hence, we should not be one sided on the issue. Let us not be unjust, for history proved that the Moros were the first victims of war and injustices. Pikit Vice Mayor Mangansakan said: “ I have experienced all out wars under late President Ferdinand Marcos and President Joseph Estrada, and in the latter, he had spent 1.7 billion pesos. So, let us not quarrel, nor blame each other”.
A representative from the youth said, ”I am saddened by the death of both government’s SAF and MILF’s BIAF and the civilians as well.But killing the BBL is tantamount to killing the future of Bangsamoro youth. A farmer representative appealed to Congress to hasten the enactment of the BBL emphasizing that in that way they can work in their farms without fear and apprehensions.
A representative of the professional sector recalled, “The peace negotiation took the GPH-MILF Peace panels 17 years to come up with an agreement and the BBL is a product of that long negotiation. The Mamasapano tragedy has no connection whatsoever to the proposed Basic Law, hence, it must be passed soonest possible time. The proposed Bangsamoro Government when entrenched is an initial step towards peace, harmony and development in Mindanao region”.
A lumad representative, Bai Magdalena Suha of the Matigsalog tribe commented that the Mamasapano incident was not a massacre because the SAFs that were not killed in their respective homes but were killed in an area known to be lairs of Moro rebels. She called on everyone to set aside censures and instead let us work together for the early passage of the BBL. Representative of the labor sector appealed to the legislators to support and pass the BBL.
In a lengthy message of the women sector’s representative, she said, “The initial peace that we experienced due to the peace process and the sincere implementation of the ceasefire agreement had brought us a very tangible progress in North Cotabato, how much more if everlasting peace is achieved?
“We are also saddened by the death of 44 SAF because we are mothers, sisters and wives who have imagined the emotions and situations brought about by the death of their loved ones. Let us not listen to the call for all-out-war by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. Let us push forward the one and only solution to the Mindanao conflict the “Bangsamoro Basic Law”, she further said.
It is not all-out-war, not impeachment of PNoy but passage of the BBL is the solution to the crisis. She appealed to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to reconsider their decisions. A settler (Christian) member of the G-7 Barangays also called the “zone of peace” in North Cotabato joined the call for support to the BBL as a way towards lasting peace.
The religious group represented by Ustadz Abdulgani Tumalao scoured on every one’s heart to be persevered and disciplined as our search for lasting peace is like Gold where no hot sun can prevent us.
http://www.luwaran.net/index.php/welcome/item/762-pikit-multi-sectoral-rally-calls-on-congress-to-enact-bangsamoro-law
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