Iqbaland Diluted form of BBL will not solve problem
COTABATO CITY -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Wednesday said it
can only either accept a diluted form of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, or
reject one which can only do more trouble than good to the communities
that ought to benefit from it. However Mohaqher Iqbal, the MILF’s chief negotiator, said they trust Congress to enact the bill without revisions. I
trust the collective wisdom of Congress to pass good legislation in the
form of the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Iqbal told reporters in a press
conference at the officers’ club of the Army’s 6thInfantry Division in Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. Also
present in the press conference were Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, GPH chief negotiator Miriam
Coronel-Ferrer, Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Catapang, Gov.
Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and ranking
military officials. There
is no option, but the option peace,” Iqbal pointed out when asked if
the MILF will wage war if the draft BBL is abandoned by lawmakers as a
consequence of the January 25 deadly encounter between policemen and
Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Iqbal
said accepting a diluted form of BBL will only encourage many sectors
to disengage from the peace process and foment more discontent among
groups that have warned them not to indulge in a peace process with
government. Iqbal said accepting a watered-down version of the BBL will not improve the security situation in Mindanao.Iqbal
said the MILF can accept a watered-down version of the BBL, but all
problems it is meant to address will continue to persist. It will not address the problems that the BBL is supposed to solve, he said. Patuloy
and problema dito sa Mindanao because the solution, the supposed
medicine was not administered, hindi nai-bigay,” Iqbal said.(JOHN
UNSON)