News Analysis: Peace pact imperiled as gov't, Moro rebels clash on draft law

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Four months after the euphoria brought about by the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the two sides are now stuck in a major disagreement over the draft law that would create the Bangsamoro political entity.

Amid much fanfare and publicity, negotiators from the Philippine government and the MILF signed the historic peace accord on March 27 in Malacanang, the seat of the Philippine government, with hundreds of local and international dignitaries in attendance.

In his speech at the signing ceremony, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said that he will vigorously work for the passage of a Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that would officially establish a new political entity called Bangsamoro (literally Moro nation).    

Aquino later said he was optimistic that the BBL could be submitted to the Philippine Congress before it opens its regular session on July 28 and that an interim Bangsamoro government could be established by next year.

But Aquino's optimism may be misplaced since his chief peace negotiator has admitted that the Bangsamoro draft law could not be submitted to Congress "anytime soon" because the MILF has refused to accept what it called a "drastically altered" measure.

In a statement, Philippine chief negotiator Miriam Coronel- Ferrer admitted that negotiations have been stalled over significant disagreements on the proposed law that aims to create a Bangsamoro entity that will replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Ferrer said that there continued to be significant points of differences between the two panels. She said the government " stands firm" in its stance that the proposed law should "withstand political and legal scrutiny and be acceptable to various stakeholders, and the nation as a whole."

"We will not and cannot move forward in the roadmap toward the establishment of the Bangsamoro unless we hurdle this crucial stage," Ferrer said.

MILF's chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal has raised concerns over how the version of the bill drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) has been "heavily diluted."

The draft BBL was crafted by the 15-man BTC headed by Iqbal. It has been reviewed by Malacanang's legal team.

The four-day meeting held in Manila between the two panels that ended July 21 had failed to resolve their differences.

Because of the impasse, Aquino and MILF Chairman Murad Ibrahim met in Japan last month. Aquino and Murad are scheduled to meet again within the week to thresh out the contentious issues.

On its website, the MILF confirmed the holding of the meeting between Aquino and Murad. "The purpose of the proposed meeting is to save the peace process in the light of major alterations made by Malacanang's legal team on the draft BBL," the MILF said.

Ferrer maintained that the changes were made so that the measure "will pass through regular legislation in Congress and therefore must fall within the parameters of the Constitution."

"We have been trying to stretch these parameters to accommodate the ideas that have been put in the BBL, in addition to what have been put in the signed documents. But it is very clear we cannot overstep the boundaries of the Constitution," Ferrer said.

She noted that the draft BBL retains the "key features that will distinguish the ARMM from the Bangsamoro," including the parliamentary form of government; a parliament with more than 50 members made up of district, party list and reserved seats; an autonomous government that will enjoy high fiscal autonomy; and a transition arrangement where the MILF's brand of leadership will be tested.

"All of us want the BBL draft to be submitted to Congress as soon as possible. But we cannot substitute haste with prudence. Whatever delay we are experiencing now is intended to avoid further difficulties after the bill is submitted to Congress," Ferrer said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said the senators and the members of the House of representatives needed to ensure that the law will stand scrutiny if questioned in the Supreme Court.

"We cannot afford to err on this most-sought piece of legislation, if we truly want to secure peace in Mindanao, which we have now realized after decades of hostilities," Drilon said in a statement.

"It is therefore incumbent upon us to make sure that the efforts exerted by both panels will not be in vain, by ensuring that the Bangsamoro law falls within the four corners of the Constitution, and that it can withstand judicial scrutiny," Drilon said.