MILF confident Bangsamoro Basic Law will be passed

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Sunday said it is optimistic that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be passed soon, as previous issues have now been addressed.

In an interview on GMA's Super Radyo dzBB, MILF Political Affairs Chief Ghazali Jaafar said he expects the BBL to be passed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

"Opo. Kumpiyansa po ang leadership ng Bangsamoro Transition Commission, sapagkat kung titignan po natin ang mga pangunahing dahilan kung bakit hindi pumasa sa Congress of the Philippines at hindi naging batas 'yung naunang BBL, sapagkat may dalawang factors na dahilan," he said.

According to Jaafar, these two factors are the opposition of non-Muslim residents to the BBL, as well as politics in Congress.

"During that time, meron pong hindi kuntento doon sa mga major stakeholders ng peace process, katulad ng Bangsamoro communities and indigenous communities. Hindi po sila satisfied doon sa BBL at pati na po 'yung mga settlers, pati na po 'yung mga traditional leaders, but this time we addressed these factors. Kinausap po nating maigi ang mga IPs," he said.

"Sa ngayon, sila mismo pumupunta sa leadership ng BTC at pinahahayag ang kanilang suporta sa BBL," he added.

Aside from this, Jaafar said the BBL was not passed into law under the previous administration due to the Mamasapano incident in 2015, which stalled deliberations.

"It was very unfortunate sapagkat nangyari 'yung Mamasapano incident," he said.

"This time kahit na may gulo sa Marawi City, hindi involved ang MILF," he added. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News