Sultanates supporting BBL
COTABATO CITY – Contrary to the recent claims of those opposing the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a majority of the Sultanates in Mindanao have been consulted by the government and Moro peace panels and are fully supporting the proposed law.
This was clarified by Engr. Norodin Uyod in an interview with the local radio stations here.
Uyod is among the convenors of the gathering of the Royal Houses of Mindanao that was held in Davao City last April 12, 2015.
According to Uyod, it was not true that a majority of the Sultanates in Mindanao was not supporting or was not in favor of the BBL.
He was also recently called by the Senate to shed light on the issue, telling the lawmakers that “almost 100 percent of the more than 200 Sultanates that converged in Davao City had expressed their support to the peace process and the BBL.”
He stressed that the Royal Houses took exception to “the attention being given to a few groups that opposed the passage of the BBL when focus should be given to the overwhelming majority who agreed to the proposed law.”
Another group, the Sultanates of Maguindanao also expressed optimism that Congress will enact the BBL.
Datu Guiambangan Asim, spokesperson of Sultan sa Maguindanao, also told local radio stations here that they were full of hope that both houses in Congress will approve the proposed law.
A majority of the Sultanates in Maguindanao, headed Sultan Abduladziz Kudarat V, were for the BBL, he confirmed.
Asim also said that they were respecting the decision of those who oppose the measure but underscored that this was only a small group compared to the greater number (of Sultanates) who were pushing for BBL, peace and development in the Bangsamoro.
Meanwhile, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) panel Chair Mohaqher Iqbal expressed hope that deliberations over the BBL will be finished by June 11.
He said the draft law has already been given to the legislators for their analysis and examination, nine months following the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) in Malacanang.
“Alam ng mga mambabatas na kailangan ito’ng ipasa sa lalong madaling panahon. Matagal na ito. Lahat na ng anggulo sa BBL na-discuss na nila (Our legislators knew that this law should be passed soon. This is long overdue. They had already discussed all the angles on the BBL),” he said.
Iqbal believed the Mamasapano incident was still the primary “stumbling block” to the passage of the BBL.
The bloody encounter on January 25 between the operatives of the Special Action Force (SAF) and the MILF rebels in Barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano led to the death of 44 government troopers, 17 rebels, and five civilians.