MILF says BBL should be spared from partisan politics

MANILA, Philippines - The Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) should be spared from partisan politics and should not be used as a divisive campaign issue during the 2016 polls, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said.

In an editorial posted on its website luwaran.com, MILF said addressing the Bangsamoro problem should be treated as everyone’s concern and not a “partisan proposition.”

“It is a national interest to solve this problem, especially in the light of the conflict in South China Sea. Besides, 17 long and harsh years of off-and-on negotiations is a record of its own,” the editorial read.

“It is for this reason that lawmakers should set aside politics to give way to solving this problem. More seriously, it should not be used as a divisive campaign issue in the forthcoming national elections in 2016,” he added.

The BBL, which will implement the peace agreement inked by the government and the MILF last year, is now being discussed in both chambers of Congress. Critics of the measure claim that it violates the Constitution and are worried about the extent of the powers of the Bangsamoro government.

MILF said every candidate should instead push for the passage of BBL before the political exercise.

While MILF lauded some lawmakers who are crossing party lines to support the measure, it also scored those who stand on the way of its passage. The group said among those who are blocking the BBL’s passage is Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat, whom it accused of filibustering.

“We don’t understand why he still has so many questions up to now. Does this mean he is slow in grasping or internalizing the issues involved in the law? Maybe yes, maybe no; he is simply filibustering! It is time the House leadership should rein him,” MILF said.

The MILF also commended Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for coming out with his version of the BBL.

“At least, he had proven his critics wrong that he is sitting on the BBL in the Senate,” the group said.

MILF remains optimistic that the BBL will still be passed before October, the month set for the filing of candidacies.

“There is still enough time for it. The only thing adversely affected would be the length of the transition wherein the MILF has to steer the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) into the establishment of the regular Bangsamoro Government,” the group said.

“Frankly, we never lost our hope that the BBL can be done within the time of President Benigno Aquino III. This is his commitment and we believe in it. Moreover, our trust on the collective wisdom of Congress to pass a good BBL is very much intact,” it added.

MILF maintained that a watered down BBL is not the solution to the problem in Mindanao.

“The MILF, if it accepts this diluted version, would not only be cursed by the people, but it will also lose its legitimacy and moral ascendancy which can lead to its final demise,” it added.