Peace summit convenors to push for BBL passage

MANILA, Philippines - Lead convenors of the planned peace summit will not veer away from the objective of the gathering, which is to bolster the peace initiatives of President Aquino especially by helping improve and drum up support for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said yesterday.

Lacierda told Palace reporters they neither expect undue favor nor “something adversarial” from the private individuals invited by Aquino to serve as lead convenors of the summit.

“None whatsoever,” Lacierda replied when asked whether they “expect a certain finding” from the group. Invited to serve as lead convenors are Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, former ambassador to the Vatican Howard Dee, business tycoon Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, retired chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. and Muslim youth leader Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman.

It’s not clear yet if the five individuals have accepted Aquino’s invitation.

“For those who fear that they are not independent, we can categorically assure you that this National Peace Summit is a conclave of men and women who genuinely seek peace,” he said, referring to the lead convenors.

“We would like the peace process to push forward and how they (citizen leaders) look at the Bangsamoro Basic Law, we would leave it to their own independent observations,” he added.

He said critics and detractors of Aquino should put their doubts to rest. “The fact that we have given them with chosen men and a woman of integrity, of independence, that shows them that they are looking at the BBL with fresh eyes,” Lacierda pointed out.

“We have not imposed anything on them but they are mindful of the importance of the peace process as manifested by this particular bill that is before Congress now,” he explained.

“How will they look at it, how they will decide on it, how will they deliberate or discourse upon the Bangsamoro Basic Law is entirely their own,” Lacierda stressed.

He said that while the lead convenors have never been part of the peace process, they can be trusted to have “genuine interest” and “guide deliberations on the peace summit.”

– With Jose Rodel Clapano