MANILA, Philippines - Still hurting over the brutal deaths of their 44 colleagues in the hands of Moro rebels in Mamasapano, a group of Special Action Force (SAF) troopers yesterday dared the leaders of the government peace panel to relocate their families to Mamasapano once Congress approves the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
The BBL is the product of years of peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and will be the legal basis for the creation of an autonomous Bangsamoro entity in Mindanao.
But the group of SAF troopers noted that this early, there are already indications that the complex problem in Mindanao could not just be stamped out with the passage of the BBL.
They said that if Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles and government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer are really convinced that the passage of BBL is the only way to achieve peace in Mindanao, then they and their families should live in the conflict-stricken province.
A SAF officer also proposed that a five-hectare land be given to Deles and Ferrer for them have a place to stay in Maguindanao as a reward for their pro-BBL stand.
The group lamented that instead of giving priority to the passage of the BBL, Deles and Ferrer should demand an explanation from the MILF as to why they were not immediately able to stop their fighters from committing the carnage.
The group said they also have been longing for peace in the whole country, but “peace cannot be achieved without justice.”
They expressed fear that once the proposed BBL is passed, the government is likely to deal with more terrorism problems if not a renewed, massive secessionist movement.
“Our monitoring on the ground is also disturbing because majority of the Christian residents in Maguindanao and North Cotabato are now organizing themselves to fight any moves after the BBL is passed,” a SAF officer said.
Resumption of BBL talks opposed
But more than half of the members of the ad hoc panel in the House of Representatives deliberating on the BBL have opposed the resumption of the hearings on the BBL during the congressional break next month.
Youth Against Corruption party-list Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez said as of yesterday afternoon, 48 out of the 75 members of the ad hoc panel have signed a letter to committee chairman Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez expressing their opposition to the resumption of hearings scheduled from April 6 to 16. – With Jess Diaz, Paolo Romero