Peace with MILF will hold even if deadline to pass BBL lapses – AFP

The Armed Forces of the Philippines does not expect the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to resort to violence in case the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law flounders in Congress, its spokesman said Sunday.

This, after repeated statements from the rebel group that it is committed to the peace process.

 

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala said over the phone that failure to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before Congress adjourns its session will not undermine the peace process.

 

"Yung overwhelming numbers naman nila (MILF) are for peace naman, that will influence the other members who are — who might be hawkist," he said.

"There are a lot of MILF members who are for peaceful means, who are doves," he said.

 

He added, however, that the AFP has enough forces on the ground "for any contingency".

MILF: We will pursue path of peace

 

In an open letter released last week, chief MILF negotiator Mohagher Iqbal argued for the passage of the BBL, which, he said is a "menu for the unity of this country and antidote to secession", saying it will bring development and progress.

 

"A contented, happy and developed population will think twice or thrice before they would embark on a bloody adventure where everybody is a loser," he said. 

 

He stressed that although the MILF hopes the BBL will be enacted soon, "even if the BBL will not pass Congress, it will always pursue the path of peace in the resolution of the Moro Problem or Question in Mindanao."

 

Iqbal warned, however, that failure to create the Bangsamoro political entity, which passage of the BBL is meant to do, could cause "widespread frustration" in the region.

 

"The MILF will eventually weaken and those espousing for radical agenda will become stronger, because they have proved the MILF wrong in pursuing the path of peace," he said.

"War to the government and the MILF is not an option. I am sure Congress will not also consider war as an option," he said.
 

In April, Iqbal said that hardliners have the most to gain if the BBL is scrapped.

 

"People will think that we failed them, the radicals can gain legitimacy on their political line. We don't want it to happen," he said then.

A House panel has already passed its version of the BBL while its counterpart bill at the Senate is still at the committee level.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has been presiding over hearings as chairman of the Senate committee on Local Government has said passage of the bill cannot be rushed.

He has scheduled more hearings to get input from stakeholders that he said were excluded from consultations on the bill. — JDS, GMA News