GPH-CCCH expresses optimism for the continuity of Bangsamoro aspirations

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 5): GPH-CCCH expresses optimism for the continuity of Bangsamoro aspirations

Where are we now? Where are we heading?

These were the questions hurled by Government of the Philippines-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (GPH-CCCH) head secretariat Director Carlos Sol as he spoke on the fate of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), months after Congress failed to pass it into law.

Speaking at a Philippine Information Agency (PIA) XII’s Round Table Discussion on BBL held over the weekend in this city, Director Sol assured people though that the aspiration of the Bangsamoro remains afire even with the non-passage of BBL and expressed optimism for its continuity in the next administration.

He also hailed the MILF leadership for its sobriety and keeping in control of the situation while feeling disappointed and frustrated. “This is a manifestation of the strong control of the leadership of the MILF over his people.”

“Despite the failure in the passage of BBL, the situation in Mindanao remains generally peaceful,” he said, adding that “the ceasefire between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is holding very well.

According to Sol, it’s not only the Bangsamoro people who were dismayed but also the non-Bangsamoro residents living in the conflict-affected areas and the peace advocates who have been working and supporting the cause for long time now. 

When asked of the reason why BBL was not passed, Director Sol said the failure was due to the “absenteeism and no quorum” in Congress citing a congressional report.

He also said there was no question on the seriousness and commitment of the Aquino administration in pushing the passage of BBL. “The government did everything as evident in its effort to fine-tune the provisions in BBL to make all of them compliant with the Constitution.”

Sol explained that the Bangsamoro is fighting the government due to the many unanswered questions of injustice done to them over the years.

Therefore, all the livelihood and economic packages contained in the BBL are just secondary to their desire for self-determination, he pointed out.

As legal instrument, he said BBL could have been the solution for the decades-long questions and armed conflict in Mindanao.

Sol also explained the role of CCCH which coordinates the implementation of general ceasefire agreement of 1997.

He also commended the hard work of other ceasefire mechanisms from both parties such as the Local Monitoring Team (LMT), Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Post (JCMP), Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), and the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

He said they all actively played their vital role in sustaining the gains of the ceasefire in the region. “The ceasefire mechanisms will always be your vanguard for a sustained peace and stability in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.”

Sol is confident that government peace workers will remain steadfast in their commitment to pursue freedom and democracy for the Bangsamoro quoting GPH Peace Panel chair Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer as saying, “This cause is ours, and so the main burden is ours. We shall prevail if we don’t give up now....”

Sol also revealed that both the government and the MILF peace panels agreed, among others during their February 2016 meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to renew the mandates of AHJAG and IMT until March 31, 2017.

They will also create as part of the agreement a working group to recommend interventions that would benefit the vulnerable sectors in the Bangsamoro communities. This includes widows, orphans, persons with disability, detainees and their families.

The agreement also included the continuous provision of “socio-economic package” for the first 145 decommissioned MILF combatants.

Meanwhile, PIA XII regional director Olivia Sudaria told the different sectors attending the discussion that government campaign to advance peace and development in Bangsamoro communities will not stop with the non-passage of BBL.

She then urged media partners to rally behind government in providing the public with information that is relevant and accurate to help them make an “informed decision” leading to an improved quality of life.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1671462434184/gph-ccch-expresses-optimism-for-the-continuity-of-bangsamoro-aspirations