Thousands of Moro people Sunday held a peaceful rally here calling on Congress to immediately pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that will establish the Bangsamoro government.
Bobby
Benito, chair of the Mindanao Alliance for Peace (MAP) and rally organizer,
said the gathering which was similarly held in other parts of Mindanao
calls for the passage of the BBL.
The
rally was simultaneously held a day before Congress resumes session on Monday.
”We
strongly appeal for the passage of the proposed bill expected to be certified
as urgent by President Aquino,” Benito told reporters, adding that the
Bangsamoro people subscribed to the roadmap for peace of President Aquino.
The
proposed law, drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, is expected to
undergo scrutiny by the Senate and House of Representatives and once approved,
will be subjected to a plebiscite.
”Our
gathering is a democratic process, it was very peaceful and successful,” Benito
said. “It simply shows our desire for lasting peace in Mindanao .”
The
event was organized by MAP, an umbrella organization of peoples and civic
organizations working for the attainment of peace in Mindanao
during the term of President Aquino.
”No
other President have shown so much passion and concern for Bangsamoro people
than President Aquino, we would like to take that opportunity so peace is
achieved in our homeland,” he said.
Participants
of the peaceful rally here came from the towns of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur
who have grown tired of armed conflict and never ending displacements.
”We
are hopeful the BBL will be ratified on or before 2015, still within the term
of President Aquino,” he said. “We are pinning our hope on P-Noy, I hope he will
never fail us.”
Similar
activity was also held in Davao , Zamboanga,
General Santos, Pagadian, Isabela, Marawi, Jolo, Tawi-tawi and the towns of
Baloi in Davao del Norte, Isulan, Sultan, Kudarat and Pikit, North
Cotabato .
To
show how eager the Bangsamoro people to realize peace in their communities,
Benito said a peaceful mass mobilization and vigil will also be held in
Batasan, Quezon City
Supt.
Rolen Balquin, Cotabato
City
He
placed the number of participants to about 5,000 people from various places.
Solema
Abdullah, a 40-year-old mother from Datu Piang, Maguindanao, brought along her
three teenage girls to participate in the rally which she described as peaceful
and solemn.
”Peace
is at hand, we are looking forward for the realization of our long dream of
having peace in our communities,” said Abdullah, who fled countless times when
war breaks out in her village.
Another
participant, farmer Usop Dakutin, 50, said he would like to see genuine peace
in his town before he dies.
”I
am helping attain peace not for me but for my children and grand children,”
Dakutin, who was obviously sickly, said.
The
rally started at about 8 a.m. and peacefully ended at past noon.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=640355
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