MILF nods BBL amendments for ‘improvement only’

Apr. 03, 2015

TAGUM CITY — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is willing to accept amendments to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law but only as far as “for improvement and enhancement only.”

“For improvement and enhancement, yes we could accept it. They have to remember that BBL is based on the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” said MILF Chief Peace Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

Iqbal told DavaoToday that “diluting the Bangsamoro Basic Law would not address the Moro insurgency in Mindanao.”

Iqbal made it clear Thursday that the provisions contained in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law were the “aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for a just and lasting peace.”

“We trust the Congress that a BBL that could enable peace to exist and prosper in Mindanao shall be passed,” said Iqbal.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman, also said that BBL will “help build a strong nation that will provide benefits to the people in Mindanao.”

Both the Senate and Congressional hearings on the BBL hit a snag in the wake of Mamasapano incident that claimed the lives of 44 PNP’s elite cops after a tragic law enforcement operation.

The constitutionality of the BBL has been questioned by some lawmakers from both the Senate and Congress urging the proponents of the bill to weed out unconstitutional provisions.

“We are for peace and we do hope that they are with us in achieving this dream for our people,” says Iqbal.(davaotoday.com)

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