“The Bangsamoro will remain under Philippine sovereignty,” says Atty. Basman

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 8): “The Bangsamoro will remain under Philippine sovereignty,” says Atty. Basman

“The Bangsamoro will not be an Islamic state. It will remain under Philippine sovereignty,” says Atty. Anna Basman, head of the legal team of the Government Peace Panel in a press conference held yesterday, July 7 at Sibugay Grand Plaza Hotel here.

Basman underscored, “we are not crafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in a vacuum. We are going to resolve the decades-old conflict in Mindanao and the quest for lasting peace in Mindanao is a continuing process.”

She believes that the government of the Philippines and the MILF are committed to see the peace process through.

“The MILF will not ‘rule’ over the Bangsamoro,” according to Basman, adding that the Bangsamoro will not have its own armed forces. Accordingly, the BBL provides for a government that is parliamentary and democratic.

Ms. Noemi B. Edaga, Regional Director of PIA9 quoted, “It is often said that peace is elusive. All sectors have been working for peace but it has not yet been achieved.” But she saw hunger for peace among the people in Mindanao and that a forum like this would provide some enlightenment on the issue.

“I am thankful for the social media because although Atty. Basman is based in Manila, we could access information on BBL and the peace process through their website, opapp.gov.ph., since we cannot reach you one by one. We help by facilitating the conduct of fora and press conferences,” RD Edaga told the media.

Darwin Wee from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Zamboanga City said the media can just contact him for further information and possible guesting of any member of the peace panel, to include Secretary Teresita Deles.

“I have been with the media since 2004 and noted that only a few write about or cover the peace process,” Wee observed. He said it might not be an interesting issue for them to write about. “We only write about it when there are already issues that crop up,” he said.

Ms. Daphne Santuyo, a freelance journalist asked what has been done to disseminate information in Zamboanga Sibugay regarding the BBL. “Sharing information on a peace agreement of this importance is really hard. Our challenge at OPAPP is how to trickle down information to the grassroots,” said Atty. Basman.

Basman admitted their limitations as to manpower and mechanism, which maybe the reason why misinformation has preceded their advocacy.

She acknowledged the support of PIA and called on the media to access information on their website or contact Mr. Wee for any additional inputs on the peace process.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1361436333135/-the-bangsamoro-will-remain-under-philippine-sovereignty-says-atty-basman