Palace accepts delays, but stands firm on passing Bangsamoro law

Malacañang is already resigned to the fact that passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be delayed after congressional hearings on the measure were suspended following the Jan. 25 Mamasapano incident that left 44 police commandos dead.

 

At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, however, said that the administration will still pursue the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

 

"At least on the side of the government, tanggap na nating magkaka-delay, ‘di ba? But ang importante, it [BBL] is still on the table," Valte told reporters on Friday afternoon.

 

She added that the government peace panel "will be ready to answer questions when the deliberations" on the BBL resume in Congress.

 

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives suspended hearings on the BBL after the deadly Mamasapano clash involving PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) members, the MILF, and splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters last January 25.

 

The clash occurred despite a peace deal signed by the MILF and the Philippine government last year.

 

The police commandos supposedly entered an MILF-controlled area to arrest Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman and Malaysian terrorist Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan,” whom government authorities said was killed in the operation and whose DNA sample was confirmed by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 

MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal earlier said MILF members only defended themselves during the incident.

He added that government forces did not inform their group about the operation.

 

'MILF still partner in peace'

 

Valte also maintained that the administration still considers the MILF a partner in the peace process.

 

"At this point, we all want to be for peace because we know the costs of not having peace and just having war. So at this point, we will continue to stay the course, at least for this peace," she told reporters.

 

She also defended government peace negotiators who explain the MILF's side on certain issues related to the Mamasapano incident during congressional hearings.

 

"We understand also their need to convey the information that is conveyed to them. Hindi naman po sa kumakampi sila, but siguro po sa kanila rin minamarapat nila na maibigay din ‘yung impormasyon na nakukuha nila mula naman doon sa ating mga kausap," she said. — JDS, GMA News