(Eagle News) — The ratification of the Bangamoro Basic Law (BBL) could help achieve the much-hoped for peace in Mindanao, especially among the Moros.
This was according to political analyst Professor Ramon Casiple as House leaders urged President Rodrigo Duterte to certify the proposed bill as urgent before Congress adjourns on May 30.
If the proposed bill is certified as urgent by the President, it can be approved on second and third reading in just one day.
Casiple said that poverty was the main reason why Moros and rebels are joining the Islamic State-inspired fighters.
But even if the proposed measure would be put into law, he said that the government should pay close attention on poverty being experienced in Mindanao province.
“Yang atraksyon ng rebelyon mababa yan kung gumagana ang buhay ng mga tao. Kasi kapag ikaw ay kumikita at maganda ang buhay ng pamilya mo, bakit ka magpapakamatay dyan? Unless may iba kang dahilan,” Casiple said.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier promised that he would certify the BBL .
But Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Office of the President is still making sure that both the Senate and House versions are alike, before certifying the bill as urgent.
“Wala naman pong dahilan para maantala ‘yung certification as urgent. Even without the certification as urgent, pinapasa ng parehong kapulungan ng Kongreso ‘yung BBL (There is no reason to delay the certification as urgent. Even without the certification as urgent, both chambers of the Congress have committed to passing the BBL),” Roque said in a briefing in Marawi City.
“Pero siguro po, sinisiguro lang ng Office of the President na magkapareho yung panukalang batas (But perhaps, the Office of the President wants to assure that their proposed bills are alike),” he said.
“Kinakailangan po kasi ‘yan parehong-pareho para mapabilis at kapag certified urgent ‘yan pu-pwedeng maaprubahan ‘yan sa isang araw on second and third reading (We have to make sure that the versions of the bill are identical for its immediate passage and once we’ve certified it as urgent, it can be approved in one day on second and third reading),” Roque added. (with PNA report)