Palma: There’s no need to rush

CEBU, Philippines - The review of the Bangsamoro Basic Law as ordered by President Benigno Aquino will take time and thorough consideration.

This was according to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma when sought for his comments on the matter.

“The Bangsamoro Basic Law is a complex law. It requires much studying and consideration. We need to understand the culture of our Muslim brothers before coming up with a conclusion,” Palma told reporters in an interview after officiating the Pontifical Mass on the feast of teen Visayan martyr San Pedro Calungsod.

He then acknowledged that the assessment will take time and that the public must understand that this must not be done hastily.

“There is no need to rush. This is something that must take time, after much study and assessment,” Palma said.

Aquino has tapped the help of Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and Cebuano former chief justice Hilario Davide to be part of the group of “citizen leaders” who will review the law.

Other members of the group looking into the BBL include Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, civil society leader Howard Dee, peace advocate Bai Rohaniza Sumnad-Usman.

The review was created by Aquino after various calls for his resignation following the Mamasapano incident.

One of the calls came from Catholic leaders affiliated with National Transformation Council.

Palma earlier said that Catholic leaders, especially bishops, must detach themselves from the realm of politics and that they should do away with publicly least calling for the resignation of the president.

The Cebuano prelate has advocated for the truth commission to investigate what happened to the Mamasapano encounter that led to the death of elite police troopers, Muslim rebels and civilians. —NSA (FREEMAN)