DAVAO CITY, Philippines – After its postponement last November 3, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) will push through with the Bangsamoro Assembly this month to gather the stakeholders of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
The assembly will be held on November 26-27 at the Old Provincial Capitol Compound in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao province.
“We are encouraging the Bangsamoros, indigenous people, and Christian settlers to attend this historic event that would mark our common aspiration to have genuine peace in our homeland,” said BTC Chairman and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Vice Chairman Ghadzali Jaafar on Wednesday, November 8.
The assembly was originally scheduled on November 3-4 but was postponed due to what Jaafar described as “reasons beyond control.”
The BTC crafted the new BBL which aims to establish a new political entity called the Bangsmoro that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The BBL was supposedly passed during the term of former President Benigno Aquino III when the Mamasapano clash erupted.
President Rodrigo Duterte on October 29, vowed to push for the passage of BBL in Congress saying that its non-passage might cause trouble in the country.
The MILF sees the passage of the BBL as one of the steps that can provide long-term solutions against violent extremism.
MILF Peace Implementing Panel Chairperson Mohagher Iqbal previously said: “There is a continuing risk of youths being enticed by violent and extremist ideologies and join local ISIS-inspired groups as a result of existing global and domestic injustices.”
He said the lack of political settlement to address the clamor of the Moro people for autonomy is one reason which the MILF sees as fuel for discontent among young Muslims. (davaotoday.com)
