Palace says more Filipinos need to understand importance of BBL

Malacanang said there is still a need to fully inform the public on the importance of enacting the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

This after result of a Pulse Asia Survey showed that 44 percent of Filipinos or 4 out of 10 Filipinos are against the passage of BBL.

”Ang tugon natin diyan ay ‘yung ibayong pagsisikap na ipaliwanag at ipaunawa sa ating mga mamamayan ‘yung kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng Bangsamoro Basic Law bilang mahalagang component o bahagi ng ating prosesong pangkapayapaan,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

Coloma said they believe that there is enough time from now until the resumption of hearings in Congress for lawmakers to discuss BBL measures citing reports that the House of Representatives will resume its hearings on April 8 while the Senate has scheduled it for April 6 or 20.

”Kaya’t nananalig ang administrasyon na sa panahong ito ay mayroong sapat na pagkakataon para magkapaliwanagan, para magkaroon ng dagdag na paglilinaw doon sa mga hindi masyadong malinaw pa na mga aspeto nito. At alalahanin din natin na dumaan ito sa isang proseso na sinikap talagang makapagbuo ng isang makabuluhang Bangsamoro Basic Law,” he said.

According the Pulse Asia Survey, conducted from March 1-7, some 88 percent of Filipinos have heard, read or watched something about the BBL.

Based on geographic location, those from Mindanao have the highest awareness at 93 percent followed by those from the National Capital Region (NCR) and balance of Luzon (BL), both at 87 percent; and the Visayas, 82 percent.

The Aquino administration maintained that approval of the BBL is an important component in achieving peace in Mindanao.

The survey, however, showed that 44 percent of the respondents are against it, 36 percent are undecided and 21 percent agree for its passage.

Among those who disagree for the BBL passage, respondents from Mindanao posted the highest percentage at 62 percent followed by those from NCR, 52 percent; Visayas, 43 percent; and rest of Luzon, 32 percent.

Coloma stressed that there was enough preparation and it passed several processes and scrutiny before the draft BBL was submitted to Congress in September 2014.

In October 15, 2012, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the preliminary peace agreement.

The last of the four annexes of the Framework Agreement was signed in January 2014 and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) was signed in Malacanang in March of the same year.

The agreement was targeted to provide political stability and economic growth in the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which will be called Autonomous Government of Bangsamoro once the new political entity is put into place in 2016.

Under the agreement, the government and the MILF will have to share the revenues from the resource-rich region as well as on governmental power in the area.

However, passage of the BBL now faces possible delay after the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) policemen during their operation to arrest wanted terrorists - Malaysian Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Filipino bomber Ahmad Akmad Batabol Usman, alias Basit Usman, in Mamasapano, Maguindano last January 25.

The operation, dubbed Oplan Exodus, also resulted in the death of four civilians and 18 MILF combatants.

Investigation by the police’s Board of Inquiry (BOI) showed, among others, the lack of preparation in the operation and authorities, including those involved in the peace process, were not informed.

Coloma said the incident made many sectors become more aware on the proposed BBL.

”Sa aming palagay, magandang pagkakataon ‘yung naganap ‘yung kasalukuyang kaganapan na kung saan ay maraming sektor ang naging mas mulat hinggil dito (at) mas maraming nagtatanong, mas marami rin tayong makukuhang kasagutan at pagpapaliwanag para nga sa dulo ay magkaroon ng katanggap-tanggap na Bangsamoro Basic Law dahil ‘yan naman ang essence of a healthy democracy,” he added. (PNA)