‘BBL has become collateral damage’

MANILA, Philippines - The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has become “collateral damage” in the Maguindanao carnage, according to Lanao del Sur congressman and Deputy Speaker Pangalian Balindong.

This was Balindong’s lament yesterday during the course of heated and emotional debates on whether graphic video footage – of a wounded man in uniform lying on the ground but still moving being finished off with two shots to the head – should be shown in the House hearing on the encounter between police Special Action Force (SAF) commandos and Moro rebels in Mamasapano last Jan. 25 where 44 policemen died.

A police officer later confirmed that the uniformed man was a member of the SAF 55th battalion.

Balindong said both the Senate and the House have suspended hearings on the proposed BBL to give way to their separate investigations on the Mamasapano bloodbath.

He said the approval of the proposed law that would create a new autonomous Bangsamoro region in Mindanao is the key to bringing peace and development to the war-torn island.

He added that Congress has to eventually approve the draft BBL.

Another Muslim lawmaker, Bai Sandra Sema of Maguindanao, said she fears renewed hostilities in Mindanao and that it is the civilian population that would suffer.

The BBL is seen as the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement the government has signed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whose fighters were involved in the Mamasapano clash.

In fact, the House had planned to pass the proposed legislation before Congress goes on its Lenten break next month. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has said this is no longer possible.

Other House leaders doubt whether it could pass before 2016.

In a letter to the Senate on Tuesday, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the MILF would remain as a “revolutionary organization” until its peace agreement with the government is implemented.

Iqbal begged off from attending yesterday’s House hearing.

In the course of the inquiry, congressmen voted down a motion by Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares for the House to invite President Aquino to shed light on his role in the botched police operation in Mamasapano.

Senate on BBL

Senate President Franklin Drilon admitted yesterday that the Senate would have difficulty passing the BBL.

Drilon conceded that it will be “difficult” to pass the measure now but there should be no letup in attaining peace in Mindanao.

“The effort to pass the BBL will be more difficult, it has become more complicated, but let us not let this incident in Mamasapano stand in the way of achieving peace in Mindanao,” Drilon said.

He said the BBL is the product of the peace pact and this is our opportunity to have lasting peace in Mindanao.

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also pointed out that the statement of Iqbal that the MILF remains a revolutionary organization has worsened the situation.

“To issue this provocative statement was totally unnecessary, it doesn’t help the peace process at all,” Marcos added.

Marcos is the chairman of the Senate committee on local government, which is conducting scrutiny of the BBL.

Authorities confirmed that Zamboanga City is preparing security contingencies to thwart possible backlash on residents for opposing the creation of a Bangsamoro region while House deliberations on the BBL are suspended.

Tension gripped the city on Tuesday after supporters of the BBL planned to hold a motorcade but police and military units dispersed the rallyists before the city limits due to absence of a permit.

The Zamboanga City police said the high alert status remained in the city after the Mamasapano encounter.

Rear Admiral Reynaldo Yoma, commander of the Joint Task Group Zambasulta, said the military had prepared a contingency plan and is monitoring the situation.

Traders, members of academe and Muslim and Christian religious leaders have united to call for a peaceful resolution of the Mamasapano encounter.

An Italian priest based in Mindanao apologized on behalf of people calling for a total war against Moro rebels after Mamasapano. – With Christina Mendez, Evelyn Macairan, John Unson, Roel Pareño