BBL non-passage could lead to deeper crisis in Mindanao -- Duterte

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 6): BBL non-passage could lead to deeper crisis in Mindanao -- Duterte
 

Presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte has warned that the non-passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would only create serious problem that could escalate violence in Mindanao.

Duterte paid a surprise visit on Friday to the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) full council meeting presided by Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda.

He presented to the PDRRMC members his major platform which includes his fight against corruption, criminality and illegal drugs.

The Davao City mayor also pushed for a federal form of government which, he said, would greatly benefit local government units across the country.

Duterte expressed disappointment over the non-passage of the BBL by Congress, saying the bill was “dribbled” and passed on to the next president to act on.

He said the delay in the passage of the BBL prompted him to visit the camp of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al-Haji Murad Ebrahim to ask and explain to him and his men not to take drastic move that would affect the ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.

“I told them not to cock or pull their trigger as this would only create serious problem which the government and the MILF might not be able to control," Duterte said.

He said he believes that any violent reactions against the delay of the bill would not be a good timing as the presidential and local elections approach, adding that whoever would be elected president will have to uphold the law which is the primary duty of the president.

"I told them that, by the grace of God, if I win -- and we are friends and ‘magkadugo’ -- I will be forced to uphold the Constitution and preserve the nation; what will happen next is ‘mag-uupakan tayo',” the Davao leader said.

Turning his attention to Salceda, Duterte said that if elected president, he would appoint the Albay governor as his economic czar and chief of the National Economic and Development Authority, the planning agency of government.

He even jokingly said, “Joey will not enjoy Congress,” explaining that in the previous congresses, he, Salceda, Etta Rosales and seven others belong to the off-center or people-centered political leaders.

Duterte and his running mate, Senator Alan Cayetano, held a grand motorcade and political rallies on Friday in the cities of Tabaco and Legazpi.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=863720