(UPDATE) Government admits delay in timetable for passing draft BBL

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government acknowledged today the delay in the timetable for the passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

But Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a news briefing in Malacanang, the presidential palace, said that they remain hopeful that the proposed measure would still be passed during the term of President Benigno Aquino III.

"We (administration) do not see ourselves looking at the BBL being passed by the next administration. This is an important piece of legislation," he said.

An administration senator has brought up the possibility of the BBL to be acted upon during the next administration after both the Senate and the House of Representatives decided to suspend the deliberation on the draft BBL.

This was after the tragic death of 44 members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police in an encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamasapano town, southern province of Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

Lacierda noted that the Mamasapano incident has certainly upset the timetable but insisted that the peace process must continue, saying that the peace negotiations were "sometimes hard."

Describing the peace process as an "uphill climb once again," Lacierda said that the country must not be deterred in seeking lasting peace in Mindanao.

"So we ask Congress: Look into the law itself. Find ways to make sure that what we have crafted would be bigger than the Mamasapano incident. It is difficult, yes. Lives were lost in Mamasapano and we certainly grieve for the loss of the 44 commandos. But we have to look into the fruit.. Let us give (them) honor by making sure that peace will continue in Mindanao," he said.