Iqbal appeals for fair reporting

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 8): Iqbal appeals for fair reporting

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator is not giving up on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) now held hostage in the House of Representatives following the January 25 Mamasapano, Maguindanao bloodshed.

The proposed BBL if passed will create the Bangsamoro entity replacing the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), hence giving independence to the Bangsamoro people.

“Let’s leave everything to chance,” Iqbal said during a round table talk, Thursday with some members of the Davao media in Davao City on the implications of the Mamasapano incident to BBL.

Discussions of the BBL at the House were put on hold after the Mamasapano encounter where 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police and 18 MILF fighters died in an encounter.

Apparently saddened by the impact of the Mamasapano encounter on the ongoing GRP-MILF peace process particularly on the BBL, Iqbal however remains steadfast on the agreements signed between the GRP-MILF peace panels more particularly on the proposed BBL, which is supposedly the last card of the Bangsamoro towards independence and right to self-determination.

He said “BBL is real autonomy and practical way of solving the Mindanao problem.”

“The peace process should be strengthened. We have already signed a number of agreements, it is important to strengthen that partnership,” Iqbal said.

The death of the 44 SAF police officers in the Mamasapano clashes resulted to public outrage and doubts on the sincerity of the MILF in the ongoing peace talks.

Iqbal however said there were also 18 MILF fighters killed in the incident and these are important lives just like the 44 SAF men. “These lives are important to all of us,” however “the voice of reason is overtaken by emotions and outrages. ” Iqbal said.

“We are carried by our emotions. You cannot discern if emotions ang magdadala sa atin, walang mangyayari sa atin (will bring is nothing will happen) ,” he said.

He appealed to the public particularly to the media to be responsible in their reportage, be fair and impartial and look at the Mamasapano encounter at a larger picture.

“For me justice should be implemented in both sides. Real justice belongs to the weak,” Iqbal said.

He said later on the whole truth on the unfortunate Mamasapano incident would come out. “Lalabas at lalabas ang katotohanan,” he said.

Lawyer Alamin Julkipli of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) joined Igbal saying responsible reporting on the Mamasapano incident would help minimize its impact on the peace process.

Julkipli said the Mamasapano is unfortunate, but should not be reason to impede the peace process. Joining Igbal, the partnership of the GRP and the MILF peace panels should continue to build up leading towards the right direction.

Igbal reiterated the MILF inquiry on the Mamasapano incident is now complete. Though the inquiry’s purpose is mainly for MILF’s internal use, “we can come out with an executive summary and submit it to the GRP-MILF ceasefire committee,” Iqbal said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=742516