MILF: BBL should be passed now, not later

From the Business World (Jan 4): MILF: BBL should be passed now, not later

THE MORO Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) maintained its position that the proposed law on the Bangsamoro Region should be passed under the current administration of President Benigno S. C. Aquino III.

“BBL should be passed now, not later,” MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Q. Iqbal told BusinessWorld in a text message on Monday when sought for comment on a statement by Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. calling for the continuation of the peace process even “if Congress fails to pass the proposed Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.”

“We will see what we can do within our remaining session days but even if the [proposed law] fails to pass, I am confident the next administration will support efforts to find lasting peace in Muslim Mindanao because it is crucial for the development and progress of Mindanao and the entire country,” Mr. Marcos said in his statement.

Mr. Iqbal has repeatedly expressed optimism in interviews that the measure that will put in place an autonomous Bangsamoro Region on the watch of the MILF will be signed into law by Mr. Aquino. But doubts have also persisted on its realization, as also expressed by Mr. Marcos himself, the chairman of the Senate committee on local government.

Mr. Marcos said in his statement that if the proposed Bangsamoro Law fails to pass under the current administration, the time, effort, and resources spent on it will not be wasted since the next Congress can use the records of the deliberations to facilitate the passage of the bill.

The deliberations on the proposed law were effectively derailed by the Mamasapano encounter of Jan. 25 last year between members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force and of the MILF and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Also sought for comment, Emmanuel C. Fontanilla, spokesperson of the Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front, said: “To us any avenue for peace is welcome but the same should be in accordance with international law. The Tripoli Agreement and the 1996 peace accord cannot be set aside because of the BBL. These are international agreements.”

 

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=milf-bbl-should-be-passed-now-not-later&id=120912