The Palace welcomed the statement of Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal assuring the United Nations that
the separatist group remains committed to peace despite the non-passage of the
Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Iqbal said the MILF will continue to engage in peace
initiatives despite the security challenges on the ground.
"We welcome this statement and this reassurance from
Chairman Iqbal," Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III of the Presidential
Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office said in a radio
interview on Saturday.
"As you know, the agreement still stands that was
signed in Malacañang between the MILF and the administration, and that this
remains the cornerstone for working forward."
Quezon said that while Congress was unable to pass the
Bangsamoro Basic Law as the administration had hoped, the public must remember
that the commitment on the part of the government persists.
He told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan that he believes all sides are
committed to ensuring that the progress made by both sides this far remains and
becomes a durable foundation for the future.
On the issue of possible restlessness on the ground after
Congress failed to pass the BBL, Quezon said it is speculative at this time
that violence will spark.
"At this point, I believe it is speculative and
premature and a cause for undue alarm to speculate on this," he stressed.
"What we have is a framework agreement that exists and to which the
government is committed."
"I believe that we have seen that in terms of the
partners such as the MILF that they are doing their part to maintain their
adherence to this and their commitment to this framework agreement."
There will be a brief wait until a new Congress would be
elected and could then return to the work on deliberating on the Bangsamoro
Basic Law, he said.
Congress adjourned this week without passing key legislation
such as the increase in pay of government workers, the Freedom of Information
Bill and the BBL.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&sid=&nid=0&rid=854587
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