Gov't, MILF not giving up on BBL as crucial vote set next week

The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Friday said they remain hopeful that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be approved by Congress before it adjourns session in two weeks.

"No one is giving up. Both parties are still working towards achieving the objectives of the peace process, which is to pass a meaningful BBL that [will] address the two main problems [of keeping security and improving governance] in Mindanao," said lawyer Al Julkipli, a member of the government negotiating panel that talked peace with the MILF.

In a separate text message to GMA News Online, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said they are "not optimistic but still hoping that the BBL will pass."

The BBL is the proposed legal framework of the peace deal signed between the government and the MILF. Its approval remains pending in Congress more than a year after President Benigno Aquino III personally submitted it to the legislative chamber.

Julkipli said they are continuously lobbying with the lawmakers, hoping that the BBL will be approved before February 6, when both the House of Representatives and the Senate will adjourn for more than three months for the campaign period for the May national and local elections.

"We are still continuously coordinating and lobbying with the legislators. We are always ready to provide our support and technical assistance in defense of and in explaining the contents of the BBL in its original form," said Julkipli.

"We also continue to urge everybody to continue supporting the peace process, to not give up, to lobby with our congressmen in support of the BBL. We have to be able to make our voices be heard directly from the people," he added.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the House ad hoc committee on the BBL, earlier said that the BBL will be put to a vote for second reading approval on January 27, provided that there is a quorum.

Julkipli urged all parties to "remain calm" regardless of what happens to the BBL.

"We should approach this in the most active and most passionate way, in the most peaceful way that we can," he said.

"Even if we experience difficult challenges in pursuing the passage of the BBL, both parties… [will pursue] this peace process," Julkipli added. —KBK, GMA News