Crossing party lines for peace

Six Senators flew to Marawi City last Friday to conduct public consultations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). It was conducted out of the glare of the limelight unlike any other Senate public hearings that are televised and well covered by media, especially if controversial bills or issues are tackled.

Without the usual fanfare, the Senate public hearing was held right at the center of the most bloody and tragic battle areas in Marawi City. For almost five months starting May last year, government forces battled with Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists influenced by the dreaded international extremists group called Islamic States of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Now standing in ruins after bombardment and exchange of other heavy artillery fires, the city of Marawi served as the center of the Senate hearing on the BBL.

What better place to secure the sentiments on the BBL coming from the people living in this strife-torn capital of Lanao del Sur, one of the five provinces in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The Senators first visited Cotabato City and Maguindanao last Thursday as part of the consultations for the BBL. Like Marawi City, these places are also under the ARMM umbrella. The other ARMM provinces include Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi where the next Senate hearing will take place on Feb. 8-9.

The ARMM was born out of the government’s 1996 peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) forged by then president Fidel Ramos with erstwhile MNLF chieftain Nur Misuari. However, MNLF’s splinter group – the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) headed by the late Hashim Salamat – refused to join the ARMM or honor the peace pact. The MILF waged its own war against the government and pressed its own peace accord with succeeding administrations for the establishment of what they claim as genuine Bangsamoro sub-state.

The MILF finally forged a peace pact with the government under ex-president Benigno Aquino III. The MILF agreed to work with the former Aquino administration in the passage of BBL into law by the 16th Congress. But Aquino stepped down from office in June 2016 with the BBL still stuck in Congress.

In line with his campaign promise, one of the first things President Rodrigo Duterte did after assuming office at Malacañang was to secure the cooperation of both the MNLF and the MILF to push forward federalism as a way to achieve permanent and lasting peace in Mindanao.

Last Saturday, President Duterte declared he wants the review of the 1987 Constitution finished within the year to give the legislature enough time to act on proposed amendments, a key part of his administration’s reform agenda towards a shift to federalism.  

Before he left Manila last week for a two-day visit to India, the President finally constituted a 19-member Constitutional consultative body headed by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno to review the country’s 31-year-old Charter. 

President Duterte, however, became ambivalent when asked which should come first: approval of the BBL or Charter change (Cha-cha) to shift the government in our country to a federal system. “This is my take. Either we figure out new regions, if I can do it administratively without violating any provision in the Constitution. So if it’s only a matter of laws, then we can ask Congress for the corresponding change,” the President replied. 

“Let us show the Moro that we are trying our best. That those Constitutional provisions that will be violated can be corrected if there is a federal setup coming,” the President pointed out. In so many words, the President’s retort was like saying whichever comes first.

The Senate committee on local governments chaired by Sen. Sonny Angara chose to bring the BBL before the people of Marawi City where it matters most. He was joined by fellow Senators Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, Cynthia Villar, and Miguel Zubiri.

MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim met with the Senators who paid a courtesy call to him at the MILF headquarters in Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat. But the Senate public hearing was held at the compound of ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, who played host.

Angara challenged those who are against the BBL to visit Marawi and see for themselves what Islamic extremists have done to the city. “If they are against the BBL, then they should be prepared to fight. They should personally fight the terrorists when they emerge,” Angara said.

But Zubiri, the Senate local government subcommittee on the BBL chairman, expects less objections from their colleagues in the 17th Congress, composed largely of Duterte allies. Zubiri thus urged his colleagues from the House of Representatives to show their true colors and prioritize the approval of BBL.

The BBL version is currently pending before three House committees: local government, Muslim affairs, and peace and reconciliation. 

Zubiri who hails from Bukidnon, echoed President Duterte’s dire warning that the Maute siege of Marawi City could be replicated in other parts of Mindanao unless the BBL is approved sooner than later.

A look at the party affiliations of these Senators would show a good mix of politics. Angara (LDP), Ejercito (PMP), Villar (NP) and Zubiri are administration allies of President Rodrigo Duterte. Senators Aquino (LP) and Hontiveros (Akbayan) belong to the opposition ranks.

The six Senators were one in taking note on the sentiments of Mindanaoans that the BBL would help ease threats of Islamic extremism and bring about enduring peace in Southern Philippines. All six Senators were in perfect chorus on the need to immediately pass into law the BBL. As far as his sub-committee is concerned, Zubiri hopes the BBL will be approved by the Senate by March 22.

For his part, Sen. Aquino expressed his full support to the speedy approval of the BBL. After all, the BBL was his first cousin, PNoy, who initiated the BBL.

Crossing party lines for peace is the way to go.