Commisioner Abdullah Camlian, a member of the Bangsamoro
Transition Commission in the Government of the Philippines Peace Negotiating
Panel, admitted that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will not guarantee a
lasting peace in Mindanao but will pave the way for the disbandment of armed
groups in Southern Philippines .
Camlian, also one of the founders of the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) and among the speakers during the “Usapang Kapayapaan”
forum for congressional candidates on Tuesday here, clarified issues concerning
the BBL together with Sec. Senen Bacani, also a member of the negotiating pane
for the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
In his opening statement, Camlian clarified that the problem
in the Bangsamoro region is not economic or poverty but political.
He said prior to the establishment of the Republic of the
Philippines, the Bangsamoro people already had an existing law under the Sultanate
of Sulu and now they want to regain their autonomy.
“We want to participate, we want to be like you, we want to
vote for those people who we want to govern us”, said Camlian.
He added the Bangsamoro people felt neglected, treated as
second class citizens thus the many rebellions that happened for over a
century.
“And if this aspiration for self governance is the root of
all this evil or this conflict, then why not resolve it”, said Camlian.
“But we can
guarantee to arrest rebels and conflict or trouble will be eradicated as well
as guarantee the disbandment of all armed groups”, said Camlian.
Meanwhile, with the clarifications made on the misunderstood
provisions of the BBL, the four congressional candidates who attended the forum
had mixed reactions.
Mario Operaña, a retired Army Master Sergeant who served in Mindanao and now a candidate for congressman in the
fourth district of the province, strongly opposes BBL and instead suggested a
shift to the federal form of government.
Eric Acuña, former congressman of the third district of the
province, said BBL should first undergo thorough study by Congress, insisting
that the peace process must be inclusive.
He too suggested federalism as the way to achieve a long
lasting peace in the country especially in Mindanao .
On the other hand, outgoing Governor Amado Espino Jr., a
candidate for congressman in the fifth district, said peace and order problems
must be addressed by the government through socio- economic programs like what
they are doing in Pangasinan, an insurgency-free province since 2010.
Rep. Jesus Celeste, reelectionist in the first district,
sent a representative in the person of Atty. Artemio Amon.
Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil of the second district was not able to
attend as he is sick while Generoso Tulagan Sr. of the third district had an
important meeting in Manila
Pangasinan has 15 congressional candidates in all its six
districts. However, only three of these candidates attended the forum.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=880135
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