Don’t rush peace council

In order to convince Congress to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), President Aquino has formed the National Peace Summit, composed of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Howard Dee and Muslim Princess Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman. He believes the peace council will help the public understand the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as well as the Bangsamoro basic bill.

As for Senator Chiz Escudero, he expects it will be the other way around – that Congress can enlighten the council on the constitutional defects of the draft BBL.

For critics, forming a peace council was a desperate effort of President Aquino to pressure Congress to rush passage of the BBL, which could undermine deliberation of Congress, or may be another layer to the bureaucratic red tape.

According to Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat, who is vocal about the unconstitutionality of the BBL, the Catholic church, business sector, or convenor cannot replace Congress; and the formation of peace council should have been done before the signing of the comprehensive agreement of peace, with which Minority member 1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III has agreed.

Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said the council may be a “completely baseless bureaucratic layer to pass the BBL.”

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the ad hoc Bangsamoro committee, said the council would help the public understand the peace process especially after it was overshadowed by the involvement of the MILF in the Mamasapano incident. He also said the peace council should submit its recommendation by April 20, a week after the resumption of the deliberations on BBL, so that the members of the committee could read them before they vote on the proposed BBL on May 11 and 12.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., vice chair for Aquino’s Liberal Party (LP), said the council “would contribute to a more balanced evaluation of the Bangsamoro basic bill by the public in general.”

Another LP member, Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo said the council “will effectively crystallize the controversial issues surrounding the bill.”

Both Senator Escudero and Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the peace council should be made aware of the massive funds that would be earmarked to the Bangsamoro Parliament – roughly P75 billion, a big chunk would be “lump-sum funds,” not unlike the pork barrel that the Supreme Court (SC) had declared unconstitutional.

It’s a big a conservative amount, considering the Bangsamoro can impose penalties and fees for their own use in addition to royalties from natural resources extracted from the area, according to Escudero.

Marcos said the P75 billion budget is bigger than the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Previous experience with the (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) ARMM saw substantial amounts ending up in the pockets of its officials.

Even the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of Muslim Maguindanao ended up in the pockets of local officials.

The peace council can do a good job revising the draft BBL, which was prepared by a transition council composed of 15 Muslim and Mindanao members.

The peace council should be given enough time to finish its job. There is no need to rush them.

It should hire a good group of legal and constitutional advisers, including law professors from Mindanao.

Extrajudicial killings

Karapatan, the human rights group, reported three cases of extrajudicial killings from North to South.

Tata Baito, a Lumad Indigenous Group Tribal Indigenous Oppressed Group Association (TINDOGA) member, was killed in Bukidnon by 20-30 armed men and security guards of Pablo Lorenzo on March 24.

On March 16, Virgilio Leotorco was killed in Roxas, Isabela. Leotorco was among the 66 settlers who are fighting for their resettlement area claimed by the Isabela State University.

On March 8, organizer of Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan – Kilusang Mayo Uno (PAMANTIK-KMU) Florencio Romano was found dead with his face crushed along the side of the National Highway in Batangas City. Romano was allegedly killed by Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel.

San Jose del Monte City Prosecutor Antonio Buan and his driver Obet Castillo were wounded in an ambush by four motorcycle-riding gunmen in San Miguel, Bulacan.

Two pedicab drivers, Ronald Ramos, 23, and Raymond Sadian, 29, were shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in San Pedro, Laguna.

Retired security guard Jose Tomanan, 72, was shot dead at his home in San Fabian, Pangasinan.

151 BIFF killed

Four Army soldiers were killed in a clash with Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) rebels in Datu Saudi town in Maguindanao.

Three BIFF members, including one of the commanders who was responsible for the death of the 44 commandos, were killed in the clash.

General Pio Catapang announced that 151 BIFF rebels have been killed so far by government forces. The government all-out offensive ended yesterday.

Tidbits

All three networks: ABS-CBN, GMA-7, and TV-5 will carry the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight live.

Senator Miriam D. Santiago has filed Senate Bill 2716, which aims to amend the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices, to make an elective official liable for any wrongdoing committed during a previous term even if he is reelected.

Our sincerest thanks to all our friends who wished us happy birthday greetings led by President/Mayor Erap Estrada, Vice-President Jojo Binay; Senators Gringo Honasan, Tito Sotto, and Nancy Binay; Speaker Jose de Venecia, Speaker Noli Fuentebella, Congresswoman Gina de Venecia, Congressmen Toby Tiangco and Wimpy Fuentebella, Emily Lopez, Ding Quintos, Jeffrey Campos, Nilo and Nina Raymundo, Putch Puyat, Eric Tagle, Boy and Cora Tibayan.