By Noel Y. Punzalan & Edwin O. Fernandez
(Photo courtesy Philippine News Agency)
COTABATO CITY (PNA) – Thousands of Moro people Sunday held a peaceful rally here calling on Congress to immediately pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that will establish the Bangsamoro government.
Bobby Benito, chair of the Mindanao Alliance for Peace (MAP) and rally organizer, said the gathering which was similarly held in other parts of Mindanao calls for the passage of the BBL.
The rally was simultaneously held a day before Congress resumes session on Monday.
”We strongly appeal for the passage of the proposed bill expected to be certified as urgent by President Aquino,” Benito told reporters, adding that the Bangsamoro people subscribed to the roadmap for peace of President Aquino.
The proposed law, drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, is expected to undergo scrutiny by the Senate and House of Representatives and once approved, will be subjected to a plebiscite.
”Our gathering is a democratic process, it was very peaceful and successful,” Benito said. “It simply shows our desire for lasting peace in Mindanao.”
The event was organized by MAP, an umbrella organization of peoples and civic organizations working for the attainment of peace in Mindanao during the term of President Aquino.
”No other President have shown so much passion and concern for Bangsamoro people than President Aquino, we would like to take that opportunity so peace is achieved in our homeland,” he said.
Participants of the peaceful rally here came from the towns of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur who have grown tired of armed conflict and never ending displacements.
”We are hopeful the BBL will be ratified on or before 2015, still within the term of President Aquino,” he said. “We are pinning our hope on P-Noy, I hope he will never fail us.”
Similar activity was also held in Davao, Zamboanga, General Santos, Pagadian, Isabela, Marawi, Jolo, Tawi-tawi and the towns of Baloi in Davao del Norte, Isulan, Sultan, Kudarat and Pikit, North Cotabato.
To show how eager the Bangsamoro people to realize peace in their communities, Benito said a peaceful mass mobilization and vigil will also be held in Batasan, Quezon City on Sunday night.
Supt. Rolen Balquin, Cotabato City police chief, said the rally was peaceful and orderly.
He placed the number of participants to about 5,000 people from various places.
Solema Abdullah, a 40-year-old mother from Datu Piang, Maguindanao, brought along her three teenage girls to participate in the rally which she described as peaceful and solemn.
”Peace is at hand, we are looking forward for the realization of our long dream of having peace in our communities,” said Abdullah, who fled countless times when war breaks out in her village.
Another participant, farmer Usop Dakutin, 50, said he would like to see genuine peace in his town before he dies.
”I am helping attain peace not for me but for my children and grand children,” Dakutin, who was obviously sickly, said.
The rally started at about 8 a.m. and peacefully ended at past noon. (Philippine News Agency)