MILF says delay in BBL passage to benefit terrorists

MANILA, Philippines — As the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) faces an uncertain fate in Congress, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has claimed that delays in the passage of the measure would only benefit terrorists and extremists.

In an editorial posted on its website Luwaran.com, the group said efforts to derail the measure would be counterproductive and would only cause more problems for the country.

"We do not see any wisdom of delaying the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in Congress. Any delay is counter-productive – it only feeds on the appetite of so-called radicals and terrorists," the MILF said.

The MILF also chided lawmakers who oppose the measure, saying they should conduct a "soul-searching exercise." The group, however, believes that the spoilers are not the only ones to be blamed in the event that the proposed BBL is not passed.

"Those lawmakers who are spoiling or filibustering the passage of the BBL, in the guise of securing constitution-compliant law, should be talked to and urged to conduct soul-searching exercise. Good if that is really their motives. If otherwise, then they are not really doing any service to this country.  On the contrary, they are courting problems for this country," the editorial read.

"If the proposed law is not enacted... the spoilers are not the only ones to be faulted. Much in the loop is leadership."

A priority bill of the Aquino administration, the proposed BBL aims to form a new Bangsamoro political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The measure will implement the peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF in 2014.

The draft law also seeks to create a Bangsamoro parliamentary government, a Bangsamoro auditing body, civil service commission, electoral office, police, human rights commission, and regional police board.

The national government will also provide the Bangsamoro government an annual block grant or regular appropriations and a special development fund for rehabilitation projects during its first years. When the Bangsamoro government increases its revenue collection such that it is equivalent to or more than the block grant, it will no longer receive any funding from the national government.

The Bangsamoro government will also be allowed to tap other revenue sources like loans, overseas development assistance, commercial debt market, grants and donations and share in government revenues derived from exploration, development and use of natural resources.

Government negotiators claimed that the BBL would address poverty in Mindanao, an issue being exploited by adherents of radical Islam and terrorism.

However, the chances of the proposed BBL being enacted into law are getting slim because of questions regarding its constitutionality.

Among the issues raised by critics were the legality of the Bangsamoro government’s taxing powers, the inclusion of areas that do not want to be included in the new entity, and the alleged plan to create a sub-state, which is prohibited by the constitution.

Congress adjourned sessions last week without passing the proposed BBL despite calls by President Aquino and peace negotiators to ensure its timely passage.

The minority bloc of the House of Representatives has said the Aquino administration's refusal to amend the draft BBL's questionable provisions is delaying the passage of the measure.

Last week, Senate local government committee chairman Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claimed that the BBL is dead and that there is no more time to pass it within Aquino's term.

The Aquino administration's allies in Congress, however, believe there is still time to enact the measure into law within the president's term.