PIA, Oct. 23 — Continuing his appeal for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal highlighted that it is the solution to ending the internal armed conflict in Mindanao and promoting peace and national unity among Filipinos.
“The best way to move forward is to pursue the path of peace. We don’t want war [to happen again] and we don’t want it to continue anymore. The BBL is a priority bill, nay an administration bill, that seeks to establish peace in Mindanao,” Iqbal said in a roundtable discussion with media held on Monday.
“Every one of us can help because the passage of the BBL is of national interest. After more than 42 years of armed conflict, and of 17 years of long, hard, and harsh negotiations, then the government has to exhaust all possible extra efforts and measures to get the law passed,” he added.
The MILF chief peace negotiator reaffirmed the rebel group’s commitment in the peace process despite delays in the passage of the BBL as well as its continued trust on the commitment made by Congress’ leadership to pass a law that would embody the Bangsamoro aspiration for autonomy without diminishing the current powers enjoyed by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
“We never say die [in lobbying for the passage of the BBL]. Congress can do it,” Iqbal said. “The role of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission which I happen to head has been consistently and tirelessly monitoring the progress… [of] the deliberations of the BBL in the halls of Congress.”
Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel chair Prof. Miriam Coronel–Ferrer stressed that the support and participation of every Filipino on the success of the Bangsamoro peace process is important.
“The BBL is not just for the MILF but for all of us. People want the peace process to be 100% risk-free, but part of it is a leap of faith out of good intentions,” Ferrer said. “Our appeal is to have the faith with us so that we will have the best results.”
Ferrer added that the passage of the BBL will lessen the problems of the next president as the proposed law will correct the structural problems within ARMM.
“Our challenge to the next President, do you want to inherit a problem or the solution? Let’s give peace a chance,” she said.