Thursday, July 23, 2015

MILF: Civil Society Group admonished lawmakers for “blindly bashing BBL”

Posted to the MILF Website (Jul 21): Civil Society Group admonished lawmakers for “blindly bashing BBL”

The Mindanao Civil Society Organizations Platform for Peace (MCSOPP) through its spokesman Candido Aparece, Jr. had admonished Senators Grace Poe Llamanzares and Francis Escudero for blindly bashing the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) following their recent visit to Koronadal City where they attended the T’nalak festivalWhile in Koranadal City, both lawmakers was quoted saying that they are against the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Law, warning that it would create a separate republic.

Aparece urged the lawmakers to present “more mature” views about the proposed measure.

“A reasoned scrutiny of the BBL will come if legislators set aside their prejudicial views about Muslims, appreciate the distinct history of the Moros as a people and, most important, study the proposed law well so they would understand what it intends to achieve”, Aparece said.

Aparece addressed his appeal to legislators “who have been bashing and prejudging the proposed law before the public.”

“If that is difficult to achieve in the House of Representatives because many of its members are consumed with their parochial interests, we expect the senators to provide political maturity,” Aparece said in a statement.

 “This is ridiculous. By saying that, Poe and Escudero are clearly not studying the proposed measure, and it has been already more than nine months in their hands,” Aparece also said.

On September 10, 2014, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), which drafted the BBL turned- over the legislative proposal to leaders of Congress at Malacañang Palace.

Aparece cited a provision on the definition of territory in the draft BBL which states that the Bangsamoro territory “shall remain a part of the Philippines.”

“How come they concluded there would be a separate republic? Is it because they just want to be different from the views of President Aquino on the BBL? That is flimsy and characteristic of opportunistic politicians,” Aparece further said.

 “If Senator Poe wants to be seen as someone who can lead this country with firmness and determination despite being a political greenhorn, she should be discerning about her position on issues,” Aparece continued.

“The BBL is hoped to be an instrument for social justice. That should be respected for what it seeks to achieve and not used as a kick ball in the political intramurals of 2016,” Aparece said.

For his part, the head of the Darul Ifta (Islamic House of Opinion) in the Philippines, Sheikh Abu Hurairah Abdulrahman Udasan, expressed hope the BBL would lead to peace in Mindanao.

“I am reminding my Muslim brothers, let us uphold peace so that the peace process can succeed,” he told reporters. “I am also inviting non-Muslims in Moro areas that we need real peace. Peace should start in the individual’s innermost conscience and peace of mind.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/494-civil-society-group-admonished-lawmakers-for-blindly-bashing-bbl

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