Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao- The fate of the Mindanao GPH-MILF Peace Process hangs on the final version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which will be decided by a Congress bicameral conference committee from June 9-13.
But the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is seeking to restore provisions of BBL deleted by lawmakers during their debates on the proposed law seen by stakeholders as the final push for resolving the Mindanao Question.
At a BBL forum held on Thursday, June 7, MILF Vice Chairman Ghazali Jaafar, also the Chairman of Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) that drafted the BBL was swinging from optimism to pessimism and back again.
"I'd like to declare here that change is coming to the Bangsamoro," Jaafar said in his opening speech, promising "fiscal autonomy," "empowerment," and "economic development" under the new region, Rappler quoted him saying during the forum.
At the later part of the forum, Jaafar's mood changed when government officials explained that the draft of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), which he chairs, cannot be restored in its entirety.
"We are revolutionaries. We are not trained to talk much, but we are trained to do more," Jaafar said in front of an audience that included Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
"If there is no BBL, there is no decommissioning of troops," Jaafar warned.
It can't be any BBL. Jaafar said they want "all the provisions retained" to make sure that the law complies with government commitments in the peace deal.
"There are many amendments in the Senate version that were amended. I think it's over 100. We raised objections to some of those amendments when we were at the Senate," Jaafar said.
Among the significant amendment in the Senate is the deletion of a section listing the reserved powers of the national government, effectively removing the Bangsamoro region's power over all other areas not on the list.
"We realize the process of legislation but the interest of the Bangsamoro cannot be taken for granted. If people reject that in a plebiscite, what can we do?" said Jaafar.
There is frustration among the people, especially with the Senate version, Jaafar said.
Jaafar said they also need a CAB-compliant BBL to be able to persuade members of local armed groups like the Maute Group and MILF breakaway group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to abandon the violence.
"How can we convince them if the BBL is inutile?" said Jaafar. Frustrations over the long delayed peace process are believed to have allowed the Maute Group to recruit fighters from MILF clans to join the siege of Marawi in 2017.
OPAPP Secretary Jess Dureza said it is important that all stakeholders help in managing their own expectations and the people on the ground.
"I see a better light at the end of the tunnel," Dureza said when the panel discussion was heating up. He turned to Jaafar and held his arm.
Jaafar forced a smile. "Let's hope for the best," he said as quoted by Rappler.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1367/milf-seeks-to-restore-bbl-provisions-deleted-by-lawmakers
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