Maguindanao execs optimistic on BBL approval without revision

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Local executives in Maguindanao province are optimistic lawmakers would act on their latest petition for the approval without revisions of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Mayor Ibrahim Ibay of Parang town in Maguindanao on Friday said he is optimistic the manifesto, prepared in support of the government-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace efforts, can convince lawmakers to pass the BBL into law sooner than expected.

Mayors in Maguindanao signed last Tuesday in Buluan town, the provincial capital, a manifesto urging the House of Representatives and the Senate to approve the bill, drafted in keeping with the peace compact between the MILF and Malacañang.

“We are for peace, we are for lasting peace in Mindanao,” said Ibay, the first to affix his signature to the document.

The signing of the manifesto by local officials capped off a peace dialogue among representatives of local government units and different international and local organizations helping in the GPH-MILF peace initiatives.

The dialogue was jointly organized by the office of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and an influential peace advocacy bloc, The Building Autonomous and Stable Institutions and Communities for Bangsamoro Advancement through National Level and Grassroots Organization Network (B-BANGON).

Mangudadatu, the only provincial governor, from among five in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), who has been so vocal in endorsing the peace process, hosted the dialogue.

Speakers took turns discussing the importance of the Mindanao peace process and its dividends that are now felt in Maguindanao in an open forum, where participants talked about their optimism on the ongoing GPH-MILF peace overtures.

The draft BBL, once enacted into law, will pave the way for the replacement of ARMM with a more politically and administratively empowered Bangsamoro entity.

The creation of an MILF-led Bangsamoro political outfit is a mandate for both the rebel group and Malacañang, based on the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro, which peace panels of both sides crafted on Mar. 27, 2014.

The dialogue last Tuesday in Buluan was supported by the Australian government through The Asia Foundation (TAF), which is helping push the Mindanao peace process forward.

The government’s chief negotiator, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Sammy Al-Mansur of the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party, and TAF’s Steven Rood were present in the event.

The draft BBL is still pending in Congress, mired by constitutionality issues and strong opposition by many lawmakers from outside of ARMM.

“We are hoping the draft BBL would be passed as is, without changes. We support the diplomatic dealings of President Benigno Aquino III with the MILF. In so doing, we show our love for peace,” Mangudadatu told The STAR Friday via text message.