Marcos confident MILF will soften stance on changes in proposed BBL

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed confidence the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will eventually soften their stance and consider the various changes in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) from the original draft after it will be deliberated in both Houses of Congress.

Marcos spoke before delegates to the annual convention of the Rotary International District 3870, here Saturday, May 9.

“Everybody wants peace. We, in Congress, want peace. They in the MILF want peace. In order for all of these to work, we must agree at some point of all the terms in the final BBL draft,” Marcos said.

Marcos, head of the Senate committee deliberating the proposed BBL law, is trying to beat the May 25 self-imposed deadline to craft the final provisions of the BBL and present them to the Senate plenary.

“It’s taxing on my part. I’m the only one in the Senate holding the deliberations, collating all the proposals and position papers of various sectors nationwide. While they, in the Lower House, have 75 congressmen attending to the proposed BBL draft,” he said.

Marcos also admitted that various sectors are clamoring to change a lot of provisions in the original proposal which is being lobbied by the MILF.

“As of now, they in Malacañang and the MILF are the only ones who totally agree with the original draft. The rest of the country have their own proposed revisions and we, as legislators, have the duty to listen to our constituents. We in the Senate are not against BBL. We just have to hear out the people,” Marcos said.

“This is consistent with my official mandate and personal mission to pass a BBL that is not only thoroughly and conscientiously studied, but also one that is capable of successfully ending our quest for a just and lasting peace, stability and development in Muslim Mindanao,” he added.

Marcos also credited the 137-person Citizens Peace Council for helping his committee in meeting the May 25 deadline by helping the deliberations and collating all the recommendations.

The Citizens Peace Council is led by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Bai Sumndad Usman, Ambassador Howard Dee and conglomerate magnate Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.