BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi—President Rodrigo Duterte has given his assuranced that the Bangsamoro Basic Law will have priority over the shift to a federal form of government, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza said Sunday.
“It’s clear with him that BBL will come first, before federalism Dureza said during the Senate’s joint public hearing on the BBL held at the Mindanao State University.
He emphasized the importance of the public hearings being conducted by the Senate on the BBL, saying that these were aimed at obtaining the views of residents who will be affected by the proposed law.
The joint Senate public hearing in Bongao, which was held after the Jolo leg of the consultations, was attended by representatives of Bangsamoro civil and youth organizations, officials and staff of the provincial government of Tawi-tawi, MSU students and local residents.
In the same gathering, Ghadzali Jaafar, vice chairman for political affairs of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, expressed the Bangsamoro people’s gratitude to members of the Senate for spearheading the public hearings on the BBL.
He said it was crucial that the BBL is enacted into law to pave the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro government.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who chairs the Senate subcommittee on the BBL, said the Senate is determined to pass the law by March 22.
The senator from Bukidnon pointed out that the establishment of a federal form of government is not feasible at this time, as the current political dynamics in Mindanao are entirely different from the ones in Visayas and Luzon.
Zubiri said once the BBL is passed, Tawi-Tawi will be among the areas that will largely benefit economically, as the province can blossom into a top tourist destination that could even rival Boracay.
A top military commander, meanwhile, said the BBL’s passage would redound to a more peaceful Mindanao, as it would address the root causes of the armed conflict.
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, noted the provisions of the BBL addresses the underlying factors that breed terrorism in southern Philippines.
“The enactment of the BBL will significantly help in lowering the threat of extremism and terrorism, particularly the Abu-Sayyaf,” said Galvez, who is overseeing the government’s campaign against terrorist groups in the island.
He said the terror groups will now find it hard to recruit new members and carry out attacks, since the implementation of the BBL answers the “issues” of the Bangsamoro people.
“Right now, the terror groups are trying to change the narrative of the conflict in Mindanao,” he said, adding that the extremists are taking advantage of the frustrations of the Bangsamoro people to join in their violent movement.
Galvez said the military fully supports the Duterte administration’s peace agenda, particularly the implementation of the peace agreements the government has signed with the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Sunday that after listening to opinions of stakeholders in Muslim Mindanao, it was apparent that the BBL is supported by a majority of the potential constituents of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Gatchalian said the BBL has quickly become a symbol of peace in the region, especially among the youth, and a rallying point for genuine change.
Gatchalian was among the senators who participated in public consultations held by the local government committee in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga City on Thursday and Friday. The consultations were led by Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the local government committee, and Zubiri, the BBL sub-committee chairman.