Marcos invites 3 MILF, 3 gov't officials on BBL briefing

COTABATO
CITY (Sept. 15/NDBC) –- Three officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
were invited by the Senate committee on local governments, chaired by Senator
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for a senate panel briefing on the draft Bangsamoro Basic
Law (BBL).
A report by the Philippine News Agency quoted Sen. Marcos as saying that his
committee has already sent out invitations to Mohaqher Iqbal, MILF chief
negotiator and chair of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) that crafted
the bill, Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs and Lawyer
Michael Mastura, MILF advocacy committee chair.

On
the government side, Marcos invited Sec. Teresita Deles, presidential adviser
on the peace process, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chair government peace panel
and Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. Leonen served as GPH chief negotiator before he was named to the SC.

Marcos
said his committee would like to invite all stakeholders or its
representatives.

He
even recommended the delay of the warrant of arrest for Nur Misuari, chair of
the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to hear his side on the issue.

It
is my belief that everybody should be included and that’s my approach. Whatever
their stand, let’s invite them and let them speak,” Marcos said.

He
said he was expecting Sec. Deles to submit a long list of resource persons.

To
make sure that his goal will be achieved, Marcos has set on Sept. 23 the panel
briefing with peacemakers on the 120-page BBL draft submitted by
Malacanang to the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday last
week.

Marcos
said giving everybody, specially the people of Mindanao, a chance to speak on
the proposed BBL will make sure the long and exhausting peace talks between the
GPH and MILF will benefit the whole nation.

That’s
the point of exercise to make sure that the opportunity for peace, we take full
advantage of it by not passing something that is incomplete, not well thought
of, the gaps and contradictory,” Marcos said.

My
intention also is to report everything they will say. So it will be up to both
sides to decide on what the final form of the BBL will be achieved. It would
not be good if we will not make use to the hilt the opportunity,” he added.

The
briefing is for the peace panel only. It is to give them a chance to explain
the whole thing under 120 pages. It’s not yet a hearing, it’s a briefing,” he
clarified.

The
lawmaker said he also prefer for the Senate and the House to conduct separate
public hearings on the proposed law for the creation of the new Bangsamoro
entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In
papers, it looks like a good idea to hold a combined hearing but the House ad
hoc committee alone has 75 and the Senate 15 members. So, all of them cannot throw
questions. I think it would be practical if we do it separately,” Marcos said.

Marcos
said his committee intends to hold the initial public hearings in Manila and
the rest in the Mindanao areas which will be covered by the proposed Bangsamoro
entity. (NDBC/PNA)