MILF: Editorial -- So much bigotry, distortion re: BBL

Editorial posted to the MILF Website (Apr 1): So much bigotry, distortion re: BBL

There is very little chance for this country to become a better place to live-in. Everything is practically defined if not defiled by politics. Nothing good is done by its president.  Everything he or she does is suspect and almost always the negative side is given more emphasis than the positive. The practice of called democracy has given way to anarchism.       

Even the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is not spared from these vicious attacks. There is so much appalling bigotry and willful distortion attached to it. Many if not most of the negative comments on the BBL are borne out of ignorance of the proposed law and innate hatred for the Moros and the MILF. For instance, many people including few lawmakers are against the establishment of offices on auditing, election, human rights, and civil service in the Bangsamoro, saying that those are unconstitutional because they are constitutional bodies enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution which only exist in the national government. They fail or refuse to understand or they did not read the BBL very well that the BBL does not seek to establish these constitutional bodies in the Bangsamoro but merely offices which are part of these national bodies. They are like the regional offices of these constitutional bodies established in the twelve administrative regions throughout this country. The only difference is that because of the asymmetrical character of the proposed Bangsamoro Government, there are special features in their functions of these offices that suit a ministerial system of governance.

Also the funding, policing, and the justice system for the Bangsamoro Government are questioned bitterly, so much so that if their wish is given way, the result would be “autonomy” lesser in power and scope than the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Do we think the MILF will agree to settle to a diluted BBL?

There is also another wild claim by one member of Congress who said that the BBL and the Bangsamoro Government are for the MILF. This is a gross misrepresentation, because the BBL and Bangsamoro Government are for the peoples of the proposed political entity. The MILF is only up to the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which it leads and this is only for one year. The one who will take the rein of government will be determined by elections.

The irony of all ironies is that these anti-BBL forces are not ordinary mortals. Many of them are educated in the best universities in the world. But if one looks at how they argued, it is as if they have never attended school at all. They are not only emotional but their discourses are full of biases, hatred, and prejudices.

But despite all of this bad publicity, we are optimistic the BBL will pass Congress. We believe that Congress as a body is made up of honorable gentlemen and ladies who have wisdom, foresight, and experience that it is the national interest of this country to solve the Bangsamoro Problem now --- not later. We also believe that the leaderships in both Houses are committed to peace and the resolution of the conflict in Mindanao.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/826-so-much-bigotry-distortion-re-bbl