By Teng L. Datu
Cotabato City Bureau Chief
MARAWI City — Bangsamoro Transition Commission Chairman Ghazali Jaafar together with Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Juan Edgardo Angara, Cynthia Villar, Risa Hontiveros, JV Ejercito and Paolo Benigno Aquino expressed strong hope that the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law will put an end to the longstanding armed conflict in Mindanao and deter another resurgence of extremism in the region.
In an opening speech during the joint public hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law at the Mindanao State University last Friday, Jaafar underscored the root causes and implications of Marawi siege.
“What happened in Marawi City was caused not because Muslims do not like Christians. What happened in Marawi City is what we are going to address through the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Jaafar said.
He emphasized the BBL is a political solution to the age-old conflict and marginalization in the Bangsamoro region.
The Sub-Committee, chaired by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri held a public hearing at the Mindanao State University in Marawi last Friday, a day after holding a similar hearing in Cotabato City and meeting with the MILF leadership in Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
“We must put a stop to violent extremism. Dahil sa ginagawa po nating status quo, lalong lumalakas ang violent extremism. Kasi sinasabi po ng mga taong ito, tignan ninyo napabayaan na ang peace process. Lahat ng ipinangako nila hindi natupad ng gobyerno. Kaya subukan po nating pigilan ito. And this is the best time to do it. Dahil ang ating Pangulo, tubong Mindanao,” Zubiri said.
Jaafar, the MILF’s 1st vice chair and concurrent chair of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) that drafted the BBL said they are confident that the senators will make good on their promise.
Jaafar said they think President Rodrigo Duterte has enough clout to persuade the Senate and House of Representatives to vote for the passage of the law.
“We have to trust them,” Jaafar said. (with reports from mindanews)
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