BOTH chambers of Congress have suspended the hearings on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) because of the Mamasapano, Maguindanao encounter between elements of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) and rebels from the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) last Jan 25 that resulted in the death of 44 SAF members.
I think this is good. How can Congress move for its immediate passage when the bloody incident has raised questions on the MILF rebels’ commitment to the peace process? It is useless for the Aquino administration to push for the passage of the BBL when the MILF is not sincere. By the way, the MILF does not represent the entire Muslim population in Mindanao.
What does the MILF want? Peace or power? If it wants peace, then by all means it should show its sincerity. In the Mamasapano incident, it should identify and surrender its fighters involved in that bloody encounter and coordinate with government investigators for possible filing of charges against them. It should also return the firearms of the slain SAF members, including their personal belongings.
The Moro rebels involved in that incident have no hearts. They finished off the wounded SAF members who were crying for help. Worse, they mutilated and desecrated their bodies and took their uniforms and other personal belongings. Those Moro rebels are no different from the members of Isis that is now sowing terror in some countries in the Middle East. They love to kill people in front of the cameras.
If the MILF wants power, then we should not pursue this BBL. It would be like creating a monster that in time can no longer be controlled. Note that even if the BBL has not yet been passed, MILF leaders are already threatening our government.
If the peace process will collapse, they said that they will launch an all-out offensive against the government because they already have sophisticated weapons and can manufacture guns in their controlled areas. Isn't that a threat? Our leaders should be alarmed by this statement.
What if the Supreme Court will declare the BBL unconstitutional? Will MILF go to war just to get what it wants? Can we achieve peace with that kind of attitude? The MILF is muzzling and keeping hostage our government.
Some legal experts say that BBL is unconstitutional and needs some amendments. Are we saying that we need to adjust our Constitution to fit the BBL? Or should Congress refine BBL to conform with the provisions of our Constitution? If we amend our Constitution for the BBL, we are giving great favor to the MILF.
I have read the draft of the BBL and I find some provisions questionable. It will abolish the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and expand its power.
According to its explanatory note, “The negotiated political settlement outlined mechanisms, processes, and modalities through which the parties aim to establish and entrench a regime of peace, development, social justice, and the rule of law in the conflict-ridden areas and commodities of Southern Philippines.” (Note the phrase, “rule of law.” Do you think these people will follow the rule of law?).
It added: “The structure entity will enhance existing systems and procedures as well as establish a new set of institutional arrangements and modalities between the central government and the autonomous government with respect to power-sharing, wealth and revenue-sharing, transitional aspects and normalization.”
Power and wealth sharing? Aside from this, the new region will receive funding from the central government. It will have its own police that the regional government can mobilize for peace and order and security matters.
Isn't it a violation of the 1987 Constitution? Section 6, Article 16 says: “The State shall establish and maintain one police force which shall be national in scope and civilian in character, to be administered and controlled by national police commission. The authority of local executives over the police units in their jurisdiction shall be provided by law.”
But even if the BBL is passed and even if it is constitutional, it won’t solve the conflict in Mindanao. Believe me, I am a Mindanaoan and I know their culture.
(bobby.nalzaro@yahoo.com)