MAGUINDANAO – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is pushing for an all-inclusive Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which will not only address the historical injustices committed against the Moro people in Mindanao but also include the rights and interests of the Indigenous Peoples and Christian settlers.
President Duterte, who is the first president from Mindanao, made the commitment to hasten the passage of the BBL in Congress during the Bangsamoro Assembly in Sultan Kudarat on Monday, November 27.
“It should be inclusive,” he said referring to the bill. “No one should be left behind,” he added.
“Wala dapat maiwan sa peace talks na ito. MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), Moro, lahat. Lumad dapat kasali. Dapat maibigay ang arrangement na acceptable sa kanila.”
The gathering, which is estimated to have reached at least a million people, was organized by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission — a body that was tasked to redraft the BBL.
As one of his centerpieces during the campaign, President Duterte vowed “to work hard” for its passage.
“I will ask Congress to [hold] a special session just to hear you. This is sacred. This is very important,” he pressed.
Undersecretary Nabil Tan, the deputy presidential adviser on the peace process and the chair of the government’s peace implementing panel for the Bangsamoro, said the presence of President Duterte in the gathering “sends a strong message” to his unwavering support to implement all signed agreements between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Tan said the passage of the BBL is part of the implementing process of the signed Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro.
He said the BBL forms part of the overall peace agenda and road map of the government to reach a full political settlement with the Moro groups in Mindanao.
“The deliberation of the BBL in Congress is part of the political and legislative tracks of the peace roadmap and that’s the commitment of the President,” he noted.
He also reiterated that the President ordered the BBL should encompass all the interests of the inhabitants of Mindanao.
At present, the two houses of Congress have filed their respective bill for the Bangsamoro law.
On September 26, 2017, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez formally filed House Bill 6475 or the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. At least 75 lawmakers also co-authored the bill.
The bill is now referred to the House committees on local governments, Muslim affairs and special committee on Peace, Reconciliation and unity for deliberations.
In parallel, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also filed Senate Bill Number 1608 or Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region on November 6, 2017.
Both leaderships have vowed to enact the bill.###
