BILAR, BOHOL, Philippines — Representative Arthur Yap, representing 3rd district of Bohol, said the “mood of the House of Representatives right now is not supportive of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.”
The congressman issued this statement to the local media during the provincial government’s Heat-It caravan, a civic activity hosted by Mayor Norman Palacio of this town.
However, Yap emphasized that the proposed BBL is not connected to the “Fallen 44” incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25 when 44 Special Action Force commandos of the Philippine National Police, were slaughtered mercilessly by Muslim fighters, while trying to arrest terrorists Marwan and Usman.
“The Fallen 44 is another story,” said Yap, who is also a lawyer. “Fallen 44 is a criminal offense that must be dealt with accordingly. Those responsible of the Fallen 44 must be brought to criminal justice,” he said.
“We want peace, we want to pass it (BBL) but there are outstanding questions. If BBL means dismemberment of a state, then it should not be,” said the congressman.
Yap said the House is now studying carefully the provisions of the BBL, the passage of which hit a snag following the SAF 44 fiasco. “The BBL has to be studied for its alleged constitutional infringement,” he said.
The national government has signed a peace accord that led to the proposed BBL which is still subject to approval by Congress. Both the House and the Senate want to end hostilities in some parts of Mindanao, which has long been tagged as “The Land of Promise,” Yap added.
Meanwhile, Mayor Necitas Cubrado of Pilar town in Bohol, told policewomen during the kickoff rites of the Women’s Month, said: “What happened in Mamasapano was a wake-up call for our democracy.”
Cubrado, as guest of honor of the event, said the Mamasapano bloodbath had challenged the PNP leadership and Malacañang.
“Then, let it be our strength to strive hard to gain more integrity and loyalty as well as pray for justice to all victims of violence and terrorism. Beyond the stolid bureaucracy and the disdainful posturing of the elite, the courageous SAF 44 teaches us how to unite in sorrow, influence our peers, inspire our subordinates and compel our superiors to reform,” Cubrado added.