The ongoing military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group
(ASG) in Basilan highlight the need to continue with the Bangsamoro peace
process in order to curb activities of extremist and terrorist groups,
Government of the Philippines
“The event in Basilan indicates a very deep and complex
problem that you cannot simply solve through military means,” Ferrer said. “It
requires the kind of a much nuanced approach across the communities, across the
tribes, and across the different armed groups."
Ferrer stressed that the project of putting in place
sustainable peace and development should not be held hostage by the violent
episodes.
The operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
against the ASG continue to make headlines after a 10-hour firefight last week
resulted in the deaths of 18 soldiers. The AFP had been able to neutralize at
least 28 bandits, including Moroccan bomb-maker Mohammad Khattab and ASG leader
Isnilon Hapilon’s son Ubaida Hapilon.
Ferrer said the ASG problem was just an effect of a deeper
socioeconomic issue.
“This is basically why we are having the peace process – our
goal is to find a solution that would gradually, step-by-step, be able to quell
the threat of violent extremist groups and also to bring about social justice
so that the roots of the problem can be fully addressed,” she added.
The chief negotiator pointed out that international support
for the Bangsamoro peace process is broad because the governments worldwide are
acutely aware of the threat to human security across nations posed by various
violent extremist groups.
“One Moroccan jihadist was killed by the government forces
in the Basilan encounter," Ferrer noted.
The chief negotiator underscored that the passage of the
proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) should not be hijacked by the hostilities
taking place and that it must be refiled in the next Congress for the peace
process to continue.
“The new administration and Congress can provide a fresh
start to the refiling of the BBL,” Ferrer said.
She appealed to the political aspirants in the May 9
elections to see the bigger picture of the Bangsamoro peace process and
understand the causes of the armed struggle.
“There is a big gap between us and in appreciating our
Muslim brothers and sisters. There is a clear disparity between the majority
and the minority that we should resolve,” she said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=876846
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