The Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), Joint Normalization Committee (JNC), and Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) oriented the constituents of Sarangani Province and its local officials about the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and Annex on Normalization during a peace advocacy activity.
It was organized by Balik-Islam group of Kiamba with the support of local MILF agencies, the Bangsamoro Development Agency-Southern Mindanao, the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society in partnership with the Municipal Government of Kiamba and the Office of the Governor of Sarangani.
The event was aimed to disseminate vital information about the proposed measure and the essence of Normalization for the success of the peace process between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Nearly a thousand participants comprised of Indigenous Peoples, Moro tribes and Christian settlers coming from the towns of Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum in Sarangani, Lake Cebu in South Cotabato and Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat joined the gathering entitled “Peace Advocacy on Normalization.” It was held at Barangay Lumuyon, Kiamba, Sarangani Province on December 9, 2015.
Wahab Guialal, Admin Assistant from the Office of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission Chairman, briefly dicussed the History of the Bangsamoro Struggle relating some historical highlights starting from the coming of Islam, the resistance of the Moro people against colonization by Spaniards, American and Japanese and the annexation of Mindanao to the Philippine Republic.
Guialal refused to discuss the massacres during the Martial Law era instead he urged the participants to focus their minds on peace and development .
“It good that both the government and MILF have signed a peace agreement,” he said, which is a solution to the Bangsamoro problem “that needs support from stakeholders.”
“Our children today and the succeeding generations will no longer inherit the same problem if the peace process will be successful,” he explained.
Guialal said the MILF calls for the passage of the BBL, a measure that will address injustices and drive development which he stressed “everybody will enjoy” once realized.
He also cited the citations and support of the International communities to the GPH-MILF peace accord, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
BTC Member Atty. Lanang Ali, Jr. briefly discussed the BBL which was crafted base on the CAB. “For the peace agreement to be implemented, it has to become a law,” he explained.
The proposed legislation, drafted by the 15-member of the BTC is now on the hands of lawmakers for deliberation.
BBL proponents and peace advocates worry the proposed legislation may not be passed before the session ends this 16th of December because of the absence of quorum.
Recently, around 29 Civil Society Organizations wrote the Ombudsman requesting for investigation to the so-called chronic absenteeism among the legislators in the lower chamber.
Ali said the BBL should be passed for “it will bring sustainable peace and development” and pointed out that “it should not be lower than the ARMM.”
Some senators and congressmen had expressed their opposition to some provisions of the measure on the grounds of consitutionality.
Senator Bongbong Marcos had proposed a Senate Bill 2894, a substitute bill, called Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BL-BAR) which is opposed by the MILF and peace advocates for it has heavily diluted important provisions of the original BBL draft.
Ali related that the BTC Chairman Mohagher Iqbal has said they are open for changes as long as it is “to improve and not to dilute.”
Mohamad Nasif, Al Haj, Co-Chair of the MILF-JNC, said normalization is the last Annex of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed by both parties.
is a process whereby communites can achieve their desired quality of life and it aims to ensure human security in the Bangsamoro,” he said.
He also explained the major components of Normalization which are the security, socio-economic, confidence building measure, policing, transitional justcie, disbandment of armed groups and decommissioning which he described as the most painful.
Nasif related that the MILF has already decommissioned 145 firearms handled by a third party decommissioning body.
He said that normalization is not an easy process but it is very important because “with peaceful situation, we can focus on livelihood.”
Nasif related that they created an independent commission that will facilitate how to establish policing with the guidance of an expert from Canada.
On the disbandment of armed groups, he said there will be meeting with the Department of Interior and Local Government so the MILF will know their role.
'It is not the aim of the BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces) to defeat the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said, “What we want is to correct past mistakes.”
“All the conflicts end at the negotiating table,” he said and expressed his hope for support from the audience to the peace process.
“We are hopeful that both chambers of Congress will pass the BBL,” he said.
BLMI Executive Director Mahmod Sumilalaw explained that Islam which has Shari'ah law should not be feared and added that Islamic law is a complete system which encompasses economic, political, and religious affairs of its followers.
He also narrated the life of the Holy Prophet which has exemplified being patient and exercising restraint while on the process of propagating Islam.
The speaker said the Holy Prophet's good character draw others to embrace the faith he was preaching then.
He said peace negotiation is not new for it was also practiced by the Holy Prophet and “in negotiation, not at all time you get what you want, there is always bargaining.”
Kiamba Mayor Raul Martinez expressed his thanks to the speakers for explaining the people about the BBL and the peace process.
He looks forward to pool the teachers in his town to be educated about the proposed Bangsamoro law.
In his message, Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon said prosperity can not be achieved through guns and emphasized that “peace is crucial for development.”
He named Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei as countries that are peaceful and developed.
The governor also said his local government has livelihood projects for the Muslim communities and they also support the Madaris education.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/722-btc-jnc-and-blmi-orient-sarangani-constituents-lgu-officials-on-bbl-and-normalization
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