Passing the Bangsamoro Basic Law is the “rightful answer” to conflict in parts of Mindanao, Sulu Rep. Habib Tupay Loong said Saturday.
Loong told GMA News Online that he believes the BBL will finally bring lasting peace to the Bangsamoro people of Mindanao.
He added that the BBL will benefit everyone including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a peace agreement with the government last year.
Deliberations on the BBL, which is meant to create a new political entity with greater powers but that will remain part of the Philippines, were put on hold after a bloody clash between police and Moro rebels last month. Police troopers had been on a mission to serve arrest warrants on two terrorists in the area.
“Without the BBL, war will continue and the disadvantage is always on the government side since everyone — including the AFP, PNP and MILF — are all Filipinos,” he said.
Loong also said he understood that work on the bill had to be suspended as a sign of respect for the families of the 44 PNP Special Action Force troopers killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in the Jan. 25 firefight.
“I think the delay of the deliberation of the BBL is called for so the government can share the same condolences and the sorrow for the families of the Mamasapano clash,” he said.
The Malacañang earlier said it was already resigned to the delay of the passage of the BBL but said it will continue pursuing its passage.
The incident has raised questions from the public and from Congress on the MILF’s sincerity towards the peace process.
Chief MILF peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said on a “24 Oras” report on Friday, however, that the group will not surrender fighters involved in the Mamasapano clash.
He said that under the ceasefire agreement with the government, parties — JDS, GMA News
