SULTAN KUDARAT–The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday said it will never resort to violence, as some sectors fear, if the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is not passed before June 11 as envisioned by Malacanang.
The biggest Muslim rebel group which opted to take the path of peace by peace negotiation with the Philippine government also assured Senator Ferdinand BongBong Marcos Jr. that war has been rejected as options in attaining peace in the Bangsamoro homeland.
In an editorial on the MILF’s website, the group said the rebel group will continue its struggle for self- determination and justice through peaceful means.
In an interview, Ghadzali Jaafar, vice chair for political affairs of the MILF, reiterated the MILF central committee’s commitment to peace.
“We have conditioned our minds that there is no other way to peace but through a negotiation political solution acceptable to all,” Jaafar said.
“Mr. Senator, thank you for the reminder and discernment! Rest assured that we are on the same plane in the abhorrence of war. This is the reason that we agreed to talk peace since 1997 because, more than anybody else, we – and those soldiers who served in the battlefields in Mindanao – know exactly what war really is,” the MILF editorial said.
“People who are outside of the war zone can only imagine the horrors and devastations of war, but can never feel them. We did and we do,” it added.
The group said despite the debacle in the draft Bangsamoro law in both Houses of Congress, the MILF will remain in the right path it took 17 years ago – that is peace negotiation to attain what it deserve.
The Senate said it will probably passed the bill by September while the House will have until June 10 to approve on third and final reading House Bill 5811, the draft Basic Law for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BLBAR).
The bill is under scrutiny by the House plenary until Wednesday. Voting is expected to follow.
The MILF also reminded Marcos that peace is near in Mindanao after the government signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro last year.
The Bangsamoro Basic law will be the enabling law to serve as the basis for new political entity in Mindanao.
“It is on this basis that we appeal to you, Mr. Senator, to fast-track your process and come out with your committee report,” the MILF said. “You may have all the best intentions, because you want a good BBL, but time is running out,” it added.
The MILF website also downplayed speculations that the draft law is being railroaded in the two chamber but it stressed the draft had been in the two chambers for the past nine months.
“This early we should realize that not everybody is happy with the change of status quo in Mindanao. Those in Luzon and the Visayas are not exempted. The reasons are diverse,” the MILF said.
Jaafar also denied speculations that some MILF field commanders have bolted the organization. “These are speculations out to destroy the gains of the peace process and perpetrated by anti-peace groups,” the MILF said. (PNA)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
