MILF: Mindanaowide campaign for BBL passage intensify

Posted to the MILF Website (Apr 30): Mindanaowide campaign for BBL passage intensify

As the legislative deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) deepens, various groups and peace loving citizens in Mindanao intensify their campaign for the passage of the proposed measure aimed to put an end to the decades long conflict in Southern Philippines.

Pro-BBL organizations and individuals have been holding Mindanao wide activities to pitch their call on the lawmakers to pass the draft Bangsamoro law without dilution.

Around 1,250 peace advocates and members of civil society groups traversed major roads of Cotabato city to participate in the “Bangsamoro Run for Just and Dignified Peace” on April 23, 2015 morning.

Participants aired their call to Congress for the immediate passage of the BBL for the peace process to proceed until the desired aspiration for peace and development of Bangsamoro people is achieved.

Peace advocate groups of Davao city joined the peace run which started at Rizal Park fronting the city hall and ended at Magsaysay Park.

Similar activity kicked off in North Cotabato province on the same day. Peace advocates of the towns of Cabacan and Carmen converged at Pikit, all part of North Cotabato, to voice out their yearning for the peace process to succeed with the realization of new autonomous government for the Bangsamoro.

On April 25, hundreds of peace advocates from across Davao region bringing their tarps and streamers traversed major streets of Davao City to demonstrate their appeal to the lawmakers for the immediate passage of the basic law for Bangsamoro.

Among the groups who joined the peace caravan were Maranao People Development Center (MARADECA) and the Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC).

In Cotabato City, peace advocates from the town and neighboring municipalities joined the peace caravan to sustain the series of activities for the Mindanao-wide campaign calling for BBL passage.

The string of peace advocacy actions of the different civil groups culminated with a synchronized torch parade. Advocates of peace convened at Cotabato Polytechnic College and marched along Sinsuat Avenue bringing torches “with hope to enlighten the hearts and minds of lawmakers from Upper and Lower Houses” Prof Raby Angkal, of Mindanao Alliance for Peace, said.

In Davao city, an interfaith prayer was held to culminate the series of peace advocacy initiatives done by supporters of BBL.

Thousands join the torch parade in Cabacan coming from 21 communities and students from 11 schools to demonstrate their all out support for BBL and peace in Mindanao. 

MAP is the lead organizing group and was supported by various organizations across Mindanao for the series of undertakings aimed to knock the hearts of lawmakers to pass the “unchanged” BBL. 

More than 20 thousand constituents, religious leaders and Madaris teachers of Lanao region signed a statement calling the Congress for the BBL passage this April. They said, “There is no existing alternative solution at this present time other than the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).”

Numerous people from different areas of Cotabato city responded positively in the signature campaign on April 28 spearheaded  by the League of Bangsamoro Organizations (LBO) in collaboration with Yes to Bangsamoro Government Movement (YBGM) in support to BBL. 

Muslim professionals and youth groups from Socsargen are set to initiate signature campaign for the passage of “unchanged” BBL by the Philippine Congress early this May.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/919-mindanaowide-campaign-for-bbl-passage-intensify