Palace urges lawmakers to resume BBL hearings

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday appealed to lawmakers to continue their deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and give peace a chance in Mindanao.

The appeal was made after Congress suspended hearings on the BBL in the wake of public outrage over the killing of the 44 Special Action Force policemen by Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last month.

“Certainly, the Mamasapano incident has created an effect on the deliberations to the Bangsamoro Basic Law. But, as the President said...we cannot lose focus on our fight for peace,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said over radio dzRB.

Lacierda said President Aquino, in a televised national address on the Mamasapano incident last Friday, called on the people to remain focused on the government’s primary goal of attaining a widespread and lasting peace.

“This is what our Special Action Force has fought for in Mamasapano. This is what every decent Filipino who wishes to leave behind a better future for coming generations continues to fight for,” Lacierda said.

He said it was important that the proposed BBL was discussed because “this is our chance for peace in an area that has been marked by unrest.”

“So let us talk about the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Mamasapano already happened; accountability is being called for, but over and above accountability, we have to move forward further. We are now moving towards looking for accountability in what happened in Mamasapano. But also, there is a greater need for us to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao,” Lacierda said.

“So our plea to all our legislators: I know that all of us...long for peace. This is our time to find a better way...there’s a better chance for us for peace. The peace agreement has been signed. The Bangsamoro Basic Law is in your hands. Deliberate and let’s find a way to peace,” he  said.

Asked if the President would talk to his allies in Congress about the proposed BBL, Lacierda said he was not aware of any plans.

But he said the sacrifices of the fallen SAF operatives would be wasted if there would be no peace in Mindanao.

Lacierda noted Aquino emphasized in his speech the fight for peace.

“So I am certain that the legislators know in their hearts that there’s a need for us to come up with an agreement and a law that would create a viable institution in Mindanao that can pave the way for peace and development, further development in Mindanao,” Lacierda said, quoting the President.

From the start, Lacierda said the President had been concerned about those who were against peace.

“From the start, there were always people who have been looking at opportunities to sow bigotry and panic and will try to take advantage of any situation. Again, that’s why there is a stress and emphasis from the President to remain focused on achieving peace in the region. So maybe there are people trying to stop the passage of the BBL, for one reason or another, but I think it is important for us to really focus on making sure that the SAF commandos did not die in vain,” he said.

Lacierda said the committee of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was discussing the constitutionality of the BBL while the panel of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was tackling other provisions.

“But, again, we are there. The peace panel is there; the executive branch is there; they presented the Bangsamoro Basic Law. And whatever concerns that the legislators may have, the executive branch...the peace panel(s)...are more than willing to discuss the provisions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Are there amendments? That would be discussed amongst them. That would be discussed between the peace panels and the legislators,” Lacierda said.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said President Aquino should make a stronger stand by suspending the BBL.

“What we expected the President should have done is to directly respond to the growing but unaddressed deep-seated clamor for justice by suspending now the BBL deliberations both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives,” TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said.

He said the BBL should not push through until the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) surrenders all those involved in the Mamasapano incident.

Supporters, however, called on Congress and other stakeholders to support the passage of the BBL and the peace process in Mindanao.

Hundreds of peace activists on Friday walked barefoot for one hour around the 32-hectare compound of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in Cotabato City to drumbeat their desire for a peaceful resolution of the Mamasapano incident. – With John Unson, Sheila Crisostomo