The passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law pending in
Congress since September 2014 will help curb the growing threat of religious
extremism not only locally but even among international communities, according
to Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, of the Office of the Presidential Adviser
on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
“The success of the Bangsamoro peace process can help us
arrest the spread of extremism around the globe by showing clearly that an
Islamic movement can address its grievances and pursue its interests through a
legitimate mode of democratic political engagement while still remaining within
the country’s territorial integrity and constitutional framework, and without
losing their culture and identity,” Deles said in a message during the Regional
Consultative Meeting for Heads of Posts in Europe organized by the Department
of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila. The message was delivered by Undersecretary
Luisito Montalbo.
The OPAPP head added that the outcome of the Bangsamoro
peace process was crucial not only to the Philippines but to the global
community as this would send a message to leaders of religious groups that the
Philippines fully recognize and respect Islam.
“[The completion of the peace negotiations] can show the
global ummah that even Muslim minorities can thrive and contribute to
development through the mutually-beneficial interaction of distinct cultures,”
she stressed.
Deles also noted the steadfast commitment of the
international community to support the Bangsamoro peace process, especially the
passage of the BBL, as a solution to the decades-old Bangsamoro armed struggle
in Mindanao .
“Just in October of last year, top diplomats representing at
least twenty-four (24) countries led by ambassadors from the European Union, United Kingdom , and the United States
“In December last year, the EU vowed continued support for
the peace process, pledging 275 billion pesos to allow for a smooth transition
and to create conditions for the establishment of the autonomous region of the
Bangsamoro, through the BBL,” she added.
Deles appealed to the European officials for the continued
moral and material support from all the stakeholders in the peace process, the
civil society and the foreign nationals on the success of the peace
negotiations. “The way forward will not be easy, and we will need all the help
we can get if we are to move the peace process leaps and bounds closer to our
goal of a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.”
“I am certain that, in this regard, the Philippines Europe what is happening to our peace process,” she said.
“With democracy, we devalue brute force and violence. With dialogue, we
discredit extremism’s claim that there is no alternative to terror.”
Not giving up on BBL
The peace adviser said she remained optimistic that the
proposed BBL would be passed under the Aquino administration despite the legislative
delays due to quorum woes and the Mamasapano incident last January 2015, saying
that the completion the Bangsamoro peace roadmap is still ‘realistically
possible.’
“Delays are, understandably, of great concern for
communities on the ground. With every passing day of delay, they grow more
anxious. With each new unmet deadline, they ask – will this mean a return to
war? With firm hope and unwavering courage, we say: no, not under our watch,”
Deles said.
“We did not come so far and so close only to give up now.
Doing so risks yet another round of dashed expectations and the prospect of
losing the people’s faith and trust. We say this not on the basis of unguarded
optimism or naiveté: we have hope and courage because the two parties remain
very much committed to and willing to work hard for the peace process – and the
milestones we reached in the implementation of the CAB, even without an enacted
BBL, attest to that.”
According to her, various sectors of the society were
backing up the Bangsamoro peace process by taking different actions through
forums in different parts of the country, and sending statements of support for
an undiluted BBL.
“We cannot give up, because families cannot be torn by war
yet again; because communities on the verge of recovery cannot revert to their
broken state. We dare not and we will not give up, because hopes and lives and
dreams hang in the balance.”
“Despite the challenges, we have basis for real hope. We
still believe. We remain courageous in the face of challenges. We continue to
work and pray hard so that in our remaining months in office, the peace process
can move closer and closer – Insha’Allah – towards its successful conclusion,
towards a bright new dawn of peace, of prosperity, of harmony, for the
Bangsamoro, for Mindanao, and for the Philippines
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=846128
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