MILF on stalled BBL: Filipinos not ready for reconciliation

MANILA, Philippines — The failure of Congress to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) means that Filipinos are not yet ready for reconciliation, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said .

In an editorial posted on its website luwaran, the MILF claimed that Moros are still being seen as "sub-human" and "not deserving of equal treatment."

"There are countless exceptions, but generally Filipinos are not ready for reconciliation. Congress had just shown it. They are making it very hard," the editorial read.

"They are still in the state of denial. Their thinking and what they say are still reminiscent of the bloody days of Spain in this country."

The MILF claimed that while thousands of Moros were killed in the past, the country never mourned their deaths and perhaps "only crocodile tears were shed."

"Most of us showed that we are only ruled by our hatred, biases, and prejudices," the MILF said.

The group also decried the supposed injustice in the Mamasapano clash, which left 44 police commandos and 18 MILF members dead last year.

The MILF reiterated that the Special Action Force (SAF) commandos had violated the ceasefire agreement which required prior coordination in case of movement of troops or police actions. The group lamented that despite the supposed violation, the MILF was tagged as the villain while former SAF commander Getulio Napenas was regarded as the hero.

"Clearly, justice is only applied fairly for the majority, but not for Moros," the MILF said.

The proposed BBL, which seeks to create a new Bangsamoro political entity with enhanced autonomy, is in danger of being bypassed because of lack of quorum in Congress. The measure would have implemented the peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF in 2014.

Malacanang appears to have accepted the fate of BBL as President Benigno Aquino III has ordered Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles to work with stakeholders on sustaining the peace efforts beyond his term.

The MILF said lack of time was merely an alibi of Congress for its failure to pass the proposed BBL, one of the priority measures of Aquino. 

READ: New fighting in Mindanao feared with stalled BBL

"Other laws including the National Appropriation Bill passed without much hassle. Even if there was no quorum especially in the Lower House, deliberations proceeded," it said.

The group, however, believes that the president had nothing to do with the bypassing of the measure.

"It is not to his (Aquino) interest that the legacy of peace through the BBL will not be realized. In fact, he pushed for it vigorously through to the end," it said.