Bigger work lies ahead after BOL passage — Dureza

MANILA, Philippines — After the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), bigger work remains to be done to achieve peace, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said on Monday.

In his message during the first Stakeholders’ Conference of the United Nations Association of the Philippines at the University of Makati, Dureza said he remains optimistic that the landmark measure will finally address the grievances of the Bangsamoro people.

He also expressed confidence in the leadership of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim over the Bangsamoro people and thanked the United Nations and its agencies for being “one of the strong allies in the work for peace.”

“The UN agencies have been very helpful in our work to where we are today. There have been problems during the course of negotiations, but they did not falter. They continue to work for peace,” Dureza said.

The BOL envisions the establishment of an expanded and more empowered form of the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and will be called the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

It abolishes the ARMM and paves the way for an autonomous Bangsamoro region, which includes the provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. A plebiscite will be held within five months to determine if 39 barangays in North Cotabato province, six towns in Lanao del Norte and the cities of Cotabato in Maguindanao and Isabela in Basilan would be included.

Eduardo Año, OIC secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said the signing of BOL into law is a historic breakthrough not just for the Moro people and Mindanaoans but for the whole nation as well.

“The BOL is a monumental document of unity for development among various levels of government – local, national, executive and legislature – as well as the people.

It is a proof of the administration’s genuine resolve for peace and development and sincerity in empowering regional and local governments for the greater benefit of the Filipino people,” Año said.

He urged the communists to take inspiration from the fruitful result of the peace talks between Moro rebels and the government, saying “we can also solve the communist insurgency if only the rebels would reciprocate the confidence-building and peace-building being done by the government towards nation-building.”

“We are not giving up on peace with the CPP-NPA-NDF. Following the example of the MILF and the MNLF, it’s possible to have peace if there is mutual trust, commitment to a ceasefire and no attacks on government forces. I hope that the Left will be inspired by the signing of the BOL,” he said, referring to the communist groups.

Año said arriving at BOL spans a long, winding history that crossed five decades and several government administrations.

?He added that BOL had to go through armed struggle costing loss of lives among Moro rebels, government forces and civilians as well as displacement of people before it found its way to be recognized as a legitimate cause for peace talks and its passage into law.

The BOL sought a 75-25 wealth sharing scheme between the national and the Bangsamoro governments in favor of the latter.

Meanwhile, the World Bank, encouraged by the prospect of sustained peace in the region through the signing of the BOL, yesterday committed to step up the provision of development assistance to Mindanao.

In a statement, the international finance institution said the signing of BOL is a “significant milestone” towards achieving stability in the region as it creates new opportunities for sustainable peace in Mindanao.

“The World Bank has been a long-time partner in supporting peace and inclusive growth in Mindanao.

We welcome the news and look forward to continue working closely with the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in support of sustainable peace and development in Bangsamoro and the entire Mindanao region,” said Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank vice president for East Asia and Pacific. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Czeriza Valencia