Palace cites huge disappointment over non-passage of BBL

MANILA, Philippines – The government yesterday admitted there was a “huge disappointment” over Congress’ failure to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) amid ongoing clashes between security forces and armed men apparently dismayed by the bypassing of the measure.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles nevertheless said the ceasefire mechanisms are still working and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is not standing in the way of the military operations in Lanao del Sur.

“Certainly, the huge disappointment over the non-passage of the BBL provides more enticing, fertile ground for recruitment to radical, extremist thought and action,” Deles said in a statement forwarded to reporters by Presidential Communications and Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma.  

“Thankfully, our ceasefire mechanisms particularly, the GPH (government) – MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, with the International Monitoring Team are working closely and robustly with the security sector to maintain peace and order on the ground, including curbing the spread of extremism,” she added.

Reports have quoted MILF vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar as saying that the armed men presently clashing with military forces in Butig, Lanao del Sur are not terrorists but Moros disappointed with the way the government handled the peace process.

The Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) previously said security forces are launching offensives against local terrorists led by brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute. The Maute brothers are believed to have ties with the Southeast Asian regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah.

Deles said the ceasefire mechanisms have repositioned MILF troops to allow law enforcement operations to proceed. She said the MILF has also provided sanctuary to displaced civilians.

The proposed BBL aims to form a new Bangsamoro political entity with enhanced autonomy. It will also implement the peace agreement signed by the MILF and the government in 2014.

Congress adjourned session early this month without passing the BBL, one of the priority measures of the Aquino administration.

The military launched law enforcement operations in Butig after the Maute group raided a detachment of the Army’s 51st Infantry Battalion in Butig town, leaving two soldiers dead and six others wounded.

Three soldiers were killed and 11 others were wounded during the pursuit operations, according to a Westmincom report released last Friday.

Security officials claimed to have received reports that as many as 42 of the Maute group were killed during the clashes, which also displaced about 2,500 civilians. The military has so far validated 24 fatalities on the Maute side.

Coloma said the government is working hard to ensure that the gains of the peace talks with the MILF would cross over to the next administration.

“It is the position of this administration that it is this comprehensive social justice-based approach that would deter the rise of violent, extremist groups in southern Philippines and comprehensively sustain past and present efforts for peace and development in Mindanao and the rest of the country,” Coloma said.