One very clear mistake of many people including lawmakers is equating the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) with the MILF, which only has a brief role in the formation of this entity.
First,
the MILF is leading the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and also the
yet-to-be constituted Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) if the BBL is
passed by Congress and ratified by the people in the plebiscite.
In
no other instance, the MILF would be at the helm of power, except indirectly,
if its political party wins the majority seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament,
for which reason, it will form the government of the day.
The
BBL is for the people of the proposed Bangsamoro entity: Moros, Christians, and
indigenous people. It is also for the entire country. One has to look at the
proposed law crafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) to see the
ultimate truth of this assertion. Therefore, to dilute the BBL for fear of the
MILF becoming a “monster” is not only a misdirected comment but a veiled act of
depriving the Bangsamoro people of their chance to run their life and develop
themselves internally in an asymmetrical arrangement. Of what use an entity
that has no power and resources like the “failed experiment” in the Autonomous
Region in Muslim (ARMM)?
Serious
efforts should also be exerted to separate the BBL from the Mamasapano
Incident. The two issues are mainly disjoint. The BBL is meant to solve the
Bangsamoro Problem or Question, which the two Parties agreed to be their sole
agenda when they started the negotiation in 1997, while the Mamasapano Incident
has to be appreciated through the optical lens of the GPH-MILF Agreement on the
Cessation of Hostilities and the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Ad Hoc Joint
Action Group (AHJAG). The two protocols of the GPH-MILF peace process strictly
require the two Parties to make “prior coordination” in case of movements of
their troops particularly in relation to military or police actions including
“high value “targets. That police operation on January 25 also undermined the
“primacy of the peace process” policy of the Aquino administration, which
already yielded praise and good results. Since 2011, there has never been a
single reported firefight between the MILF and government forces. The peace
negotiation also made strides after strides culminating in the signing of two
major agreements, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the
Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
The
tragic incident in Mamasapano also highlighted the complications brought about
by the so-called “war on terror” which sometimes takes center stage especially
when a foreign agenda and money are brought into the picture. It has been
proved in Basilan in October 2011 and now in Mamasapano in Maguindanao on
January 25 that whenever military operations are not coordinated with the MILF
disasters would always ensue. It is not that the MILF would like to equate
itself with Philippine government in terms of status, but this issue of
coordination is operational or tactical, and more importantly, it is what the
protocols of the ceasefire and AHJAG provided for. For the MILF, when we signed
agreements with government, we signed them with solemn commitment to honor
them.
For
those calling for all-out war against the MILF, no less than James A. Kelley,
Assistant Secretary of State, upon the instruction of U.S. President George
Bush, in his (Kelley) letter to the late MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim on June
16, 2003, restrained those of this view: “I note with satisfaction that the
MILF has declared a temporary ceasefire, which I urge you to extend until a
settlement is concluded. Both sides need to refrain from actions that merely
perpetuate the cycle of violence. Neither side can win this conflict on the
battlefield; however, both the MILF and the Republic of the Philippines can achieve a lasting victory for
the people of Mindanao by coming to a
settlement (highlight supplied).”
As
repeatedly asserted, passing a diluted BBL will only prolong the agonies and
sufferings in Mindanao . It can even breed-in
more complications. This country will also suffer, depriving it of the chance
to catch up with its progressive neighbors like Singapore ,
Malaysia , Brunei , and Indonesia
Moreover,
we shall not be ruled by our emotions, biases, prejudices, and hatred. If we
examine how many of those in the media negatively twisted the unfortunate
incident in Mamasapano against the BBL, MILF, and President Aquino, we can
clearly see the bestial or to say the least, the illogical side of these
writers and columnists. (Perhaps, many are paid by unseen hands that represent
the ultra-conservative sector of the Philippine society who never want peace
with the Moros happen in this country).
Finally,
what is good, however, is that the voices of reasons are slowly gaining ground,
although theirs is still an uphill fight against the well-oiled and
orchestrated anti-BBL machinery. In the end, these voices will triumph,
especially after the fit of anger subsides.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/765-bbl-not-for-milf
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