The Moro Islamic Liberation Front welcomed Friday the decision of President Benigno Aquino to tap ‘civilian leaders’ to review the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law describing it as a step to the right direction.
“As a matter of principle, we do appreciate that because it is an initiative to the right direction and I think that would boost the chance of the BBL passing in Congress,” Mohagher Iqbal, head of the MILF peace panel, told reporters before the launch of publications advocating peace in Mindanao.
Asked if he thinks the BBL is the casualty of the Mamasapano clash, Iqbal replied in the negative.
“I don’t call it as a casualty because the BBL is battered, but it is not yet down,” he said.
He expressed hope that with the President and the MILF pushing the BBL forward “eventually the voice of reason will prevail over the voice of emotion.”
Asked about the other options of the MILF if ever the BBL failed to get the nod of lawmakers, Iqbal said its only option now was to push the proposed law and have it passed by Congress.
“The only option right now is the option of peace. The way of peace will prevail over the way of war and it’s basic in the MILF and in Islam that peace should always be the agenda and we will stick to that no matter what happens, the way of peace will stay until the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Mindanao,” the MILF leader said.
Iqbal attended the launching of two books and a magazine in Intramuros, Manila which marked the first year of signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
One of the books, “Getting to Peace: Opening Statements from the GPH-MILF Peace Talks (2011-2014)” is a compilation of statements that were delivered by the chief negotiators, now Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and MILF’s Mohagher Iqbal, during the formal peace negotiations under the Aquino administration.
“In Defense of the Bangsamoro Basic Law: Selected Essays,” on the other hand, is composed mainly of speeches and essays articulated in several peace forums and discussions on the southern Philippines peace process.
Among the authors of the speeches and articles were Coronel-Ferrer, government peace panel member Senen Bacani, government Technical Working Group head Jose Luis Martin Gascon, the head of peace panel’s legal team Atty. Anna Tarhata Basman, University of the Philippines College of Muslim Affairs Dean Julkipli Wadi, retired Justice Adolf Azcuna, and the framers of the 1987 Constitution.
Along with the books, the “Kababaihan at Kapayapaan Magazine” will also release its third edition with stories of women advocating peace in the country. —NB, GMA News
