THE country is “headed for a trouble” if Congress would fail to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) soon, President Duterte has wa3rned.
Duterte urged Congress to expedite the passage of the new BBL that was drafted by the 21-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
“If we do not act on it expeditiously, I think that we are headed for a trouble. We must continue to talk and I will urge Congress to fasttrack it because they are getting impatient. And I told them of the wages of how to negotiate peace,” he said.
“Sandali lang but we will comply on our side what we have promised,” he said.
Duterte assured that he would fulfill his commitments to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro Naitonal Liberation Front, and vowed they would work for a transition from a unitary to a federal form of government.
“Eh that is a commitment eh. Not even a promise but a commitment to the Moro people,” he said.
The President reiterated he will give the Moro people “the territories that they want and the kind of framework and governance that they expect with a reformation of all the things in the Philippines.”
The BTC, which comprises 11 members from the MILF and 10 from the government, submitted to the Palace on July 17 the new BBL draft which was transmitted to Congress on Aug. 14.
During the turnover ceremony in Malacañang on July 17, BTC chair Ghazali Jaafar said the new draft BBL is the “best antidote of the violent extremism” in light of the Marawi siege that started on May 23 and ended five months after.
“We humbly submit this new proposed BBL. This is the best antidote to violent extremism that has wrought havoc in many parts of the Bangsamoro,” Jaafar said.
Jaafar, who is also MILF 1st vice chair, said that if the draft BBL gets approved by Congress, “it will erase the doubt on the peace process” and counter the “extremism” that feeds on the the frustration of the Moro people.
He added that the BBL reflects the diversity of interests of the Bangsamoro people, non-Bangsamoro indigenous people and secular communities, and is the new formula to attain elusive peace in Mindanao.
“The recent tragedy in Marawi City can only lead to isolation and public hatred over the extremists. We believe that what they have done to the people of Marawi City, they did it out of frustration. What our people need is a just and dignified peace. They need the promises of peace that the BBL offers,” he said. (antonio colina IV of mindanews)
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