ANGARA: BBL A STEP TOWARDS STABILITY AND PROGRESS IN MINDANAO

Senator Sonny Angara said the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is an affirmative action towards attaining regional stability and economic development in Mindanao.

The Senate BBL sub-committee, chaired by Senator Miguel Zubiri, conducted a hearing on Senate Bills 1608 and 1635 or the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region on Thursday.

President Rodrigo Duterte has asked lawmakers to make the proposed BBL conform with the Constitution and to hasten its approval to avoid more trouble from secessionist groups in Mindanao.

"The president has seen the urgency and the need for BBL and we agree. But we must remember that we must build an autonomous region based on justice. We will approach the BBL with sensitivity and awareness of historical injustices," said Angara, chairman of the Senate local government committee.

"It must be within bounds of the Constitution, and a product of national debate and consultations. We urge our colleagues to hear all concerns and balance the interests of various groups in the region to ensure a more inclusive BBL," he added.

The BBL is the enabling measure of the peace compact signed by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014. It aims to create a Bangsamoro political entity with enhanced autonomy.

The proposed measure failed to pass in the previous administration because of the bloody Mamasapano clash, where 44 elite cops were killed.

"Kung hindi dahil sa pangyayari sa Mamasapano kung saan nagbuwis ng buhay ang ating magigiting na kapulisan at sundalo, malamang ay batas na po ito. Huwag natin kalimutan ang kanilang mga sakripisyo. Let's proceed with fervor and passion to give justice to the sacrifices of all the men, not just those who died on that day, but also our forebears," Angara said.