The MILF is open to improvements on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law but its autonomy should be respected, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal says
OPTIMISTIC. MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal remains optimistic the BBL will be passed but says Congress should respect the proposed government's autonomy. Rappler file photo
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is still “open for improvements and enhancement” but the “essential elements of a real autonomous government” should be included in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal explained.
Both chambers of
Congress submitted their own version of the proposed law – different from the
draft of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and reviewed by President
Benigno Aquino III.
The substitute
bills, known as the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBARs),
carry differences mainly on the exercise of autonomy in the proposed region.
According to
Iqbal, he respects the power of Congress to legislate but is worried the
deleted provisions may affect the region.
“The autonomous
government should have powers that would really allow that entity to stand on
its feet,” he said during a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents
Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).
Out of
distrust?
The various
amendments on the proposed law, chief government peace negotiator Professor
Miriam Colonel-Ferrer lamented, were made “out of distrust and fear that the
Bangsamoro will secede.”
She cited
examples such as the word “territory” replaced with “area” to identify the
geographic scope of the proposed region despite the use of “territorial
jurisdiction” for local government units (LGUs) in the Local Government Code.
Ferrer also
pointed out the iterations in the amended Senate bill which emphasize the Bangsamoro
as “an inalienable part of the Philippines
While protecting
the powers of LGUs is legitimate, she clarified that these should not hinder
the establishment of a genuine autonomy for the region – pointing out that both
local and regional autonomy are mandated by the 1987 Constitution.
Allocation of
powers, she noted, should be balanced and objective.
"The
autonomous region plays an integrative role over the LGUs,” Ferrer emphasized.
The BTC, however,
continues to build trust and counter fear with peace process stakeholders.
“A personal
approach is really helping building trust,” he said. “What is important is you
need to open communication.”
“There is some
improvement in this regard, especially in the Lower House” Iqbal added.
Not giving up
Office of the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP) Secretary Teresita Quintos
Deles emphasized there is no giving up on the BBL as the Bangsamoro aspiration
for genuine autonomy and self–determination is “within grasp.”
“For the sake of
those communities and especially their children, we dare not give up now,” she
declared. “After all the tests and trials that this peace process has gone
through, we do not give up now.”
Despite the
deferred passage of the BBL, they remain “confident and cautiously optimistic”
that it won’t take too long anymore and their commitment remains “firm towards
completion.”
“Where we are
now, I must insist that we are returning to a better place,” Deles said. “With
all peace activists left standing – and we are stronger now and joined by
far-seeing pillars of society – we are steadfast in laying claim that this
dream will not be deferred for long.”
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/mindanao/106410-bangsamoro-basic-law-autonomous-government-powers
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