US envoy urges Pinoys: ‘Reinvigorate’ peace efforts despite BBL’s ‘death’

From GMA News (Feb 3): US envoy urges Pinoys: ‘Reinvigorate’ peace efforts despite BBL’s ‘death’

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg on Wednesday urged Filipinos to “redouble efforts” to carry out the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) despite Congress’ failure to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

While Goldberg refused to comment on the fate of the Bangsamoro bill, he said the US would like to continue seeing progress in the peace process in Mindanao.

“What we would urge everybody is to reinvigorate efforts to carry out the peace agreement. I’m not going to discuss the BBL because that is domestic legislation. That’s for Congress to do. But we all can say without hesitation that we’d like to see the peace process go forward,” he told reporters at a press conference.

“It’s clear that the more people, the more members of the Muslim community in Mindanao enter into the peace process, the better,” Goldberg added.

Leaders of both the Senate and House of Representatives have sounded the death knell on the proposed BBL ahead of the adjournment of sessions today, with Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. saying they no longer have time to pass the measure in plenary.

The Bangsamoro bill, a product of the peace pact signed by the government and the MILF, seeks to formalize the creation of a new political entity that will replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Despite Congress’ admission of its failure to pass the proposed BBL,

Malacañang said the Aquino administration remains committed to proceed with the peace process.

“Whatever the final fate of the proposed BBL, government was determined to support the peace process and encourage all stakeholders to give peace a chance,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said last week. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/553798/news/nation/us-envoy-urges-pinoys-reinvigorate-peace-efforts-despite-bbl-s-death