Feature: BBL remains tool for lasting peace in Mindanao

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 1): Feature: BBL remains tool for lasting peace in Mindanao

To government lawyer Beatriz Bayot, of the Office of the Solicitor General and member of the legal team assisting the peace panel since 2010, hopes remain high that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will pave the way to achieving the Bangsamoro peoples’ right to identity and territory under a meaningful autonomy in Mindanao.

The BBL remains pending at the Senate while the House of Representatives has yet to approve the bill. Congress is set to adjourn on February 5.

“Patuloy pa rin ang commitment ng pamahalaan at maging ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to pursue a meaningful autonomy in Mindanao and regardless of the few months will bring, ipu-pursue natin yan in a peaceful democratic manner,” said Bayot.

According to Bayot, the BBL’s creation was based on Article X, Section 15 of the Philippine Constitution, which states that there shall be created autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and in the Cordilleras consisting of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas sharing common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and social structures.

“The creation of the autonomous region shall be effective when approved by majority of the votes cast by the constituent units in a plebiscite called for the purpose, provided that only provinces, cities, and geographic areas voting favorably in such plebiscite shall be included in the autonomous region,” she said.

The BBL seeks to establish a political entity, provides for its basic structure of government in recognition of the justness and legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people and their aspiration to chart their political future through a democratic process that will secure their identity and posterity and allow for meaningful self-governance.

“Hindi po option sa atin ang bumalik sa gyera dahil malaki po ang nagagastos ng gobyerno sa pang-araw-araw na gyera pero bukod dito, bilangin na lang po natin kung ilan ang namamatay both on the MILF side and on the government side as well,” she said.

Bayot added: “If we feel terrible of our fallen officers, I think we should also feel terrible for the civilians who were caught in the crossfire.”

“Kailangan natin talagang kumapit dito, kasi ito’y isang measure na hindi pwedeng hindi maipasa dahil talagang decades, if not centuries, nang naghihintay ang ating mga kapatid na Bangsamoro para maisakatuparan nila ang kanilang minimithi na right to self-determination,” Bayot said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2821454307957/feature-bbl-remains-tool-for-lasting-peace-in-mindanao