MILF: Editorial -- Don’t pass the buck to next Congress

Editorial posted to the MILF Website (Dec 16): Editorial -- Don’t pass the buck to next Congress

We have been distrusting, or worse, hating, or worst, killing each other since the days of Spaniards in the Philippines, so that to this day, we are still reeling or suffering from the devastating effects of this madness. There is so much mutual hatred, biases, prejudices, or animosities. What did we get in return, progress or development?

This country had been granted independence eleven years ahead of Malaysia, but the latter has surpassed us in terms of development and promotion of racial harmony. The truth is that no country would ever progress and develop unless it succeeds in resolving its internal strife, and to be able to do it, there must not only be equal opportunity and fair treatment for all, but above all, there must be justice. Persecution and oppression can only be committed by the majority and the strong, or in this case, the state, which has the power and resources at its disposal.

As a consequence of this, the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is still not passed by both Houses of Congress even after more than one year of deliberation.  According to Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, the reason for this is the hatred, biases, prejudices, and paranoia of the majority population of this country against the Moros or Muslims. This intense toxic feeling is shared by many or most of lawmakers, who are also Christians.

It is time we try trusting each other, or at least be fair to each other; in this case, pass the BBL especially in the Senate. The House had terminated its period of interpellation last December 16 and is ready by January next year for the period of amendment, which can be abbreviated once President Benigno Aquino III certifies the BBL as urgent bill. In the Senate, it hasn’t, but it can still do it, also in January.  But the delivery can be fast-tracked and assured, if for instance, veteran senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Miriam Santiago, who are admittedly two of the most brilliant and experienced, support its passage. Both are graduating senators. We hope they will lead their colleagues in giving the Moros real autonomy, a legacy that the Moros will remember forever.

It is not good to pass the buck to the next Congress or President.  That is to leave the fate of BBL to chances. That is in effect shedding off responsibility. It should be passed now, not later. Domestic and international expressions of support are overwhelming and mounting; even Pope Francis during his meeting with President Aquino last December 4 had reportedly asked the latter to pass a “good” BBL.

The prospect of radicalization in Mindanao is not in the figment of imagination. It is real; there is an ongoing recruitment of youths by still unknown groups or personalities. But the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has not taken root yet. This calls not only for vigilance but more importantly, for a reliable partner of government which it can work with and combat this impending menace. But this can only be achieved if the BBL is passed into law thereby giving the MILF and its allies, including factions in the MNLF, the necessary leverage to do so.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/735-don-t-pass-the-buck-to-next-congress