Poe-Escudero unfazed by backlash over stand vs BBL

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Leading presidential and vice presidential tandem Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero stood firm on their stand against the current Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) under the Aquino administration and were unfazed by the possible backlash from supporters in Mindanao.

Poe and Escudero, in a news briefing here Friday before their indoor campaign rally, maintained there should be a true and inclusive peace negotiation to attain peace in Mindanao.

Poe said the peace process must continue and there are many ways to achieve the desired peace.

“Unang-una kailangan natin ipagpatuloy ang pag-uusap ng kapayaan, tunay na pag-uusap. Ibig sabihin ang pag-uusap ng iba’t ibang grupo ay inclusive hindi lamang itong pinipilit na bersyon ng BBL,” Poe said.

She said the peace process should include not only the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), but also the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Maguindanaons, Tausugs, Maranaws and other tribes, including Badjaos and Christians comprising the majority of Mindanao.

Poe said the peace process should pinpoint the priority in the development, citing the lack of development and poverty as the reasons behind insurgencies.

Escudero for his part said the next administration will have a “golden opportunity” to plug the loopholes and address the defects of the proposed legislation that was initially designed to bring lasting peace and economic development in Mindanao.

He added the future framework should be an improved version of the Malacañang-backed BBL drafted by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and endorsed by the MILF.

“So many loopholes and the OPAPP version did not carry applicable advocacies, positions and proposals of all stakeholders in the region,” Escudero said.