Cha-cha pressed to avert crisis; BBL won’t guarantee peace – Rodriguez
A group of former government officials and representatives of various sectors yesterday threw their full support to former Chief Justice Reynato Puno’s proposition to revise the 1987 Constitution to forestall a crisis that could emanate from the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) regardless of its outcome in Congress.
The group, calling itself “Bagong Sistema, Bagong Pag-asa,” shared Puno’s view that whether the BBL is passed or not in Congress, it will not bring about permanent peace in Mindanao but may even lead to a crisis.
Even Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of House Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL, admitted in his sponsorship speech yesterday that enactment into law of the BBL will not guarantee peace in Mindanao.
“Peace may not even be achieved a month or even a year after this bill becomes a law but this I assure my esteemed colleagues and the Filipino people – this bill will provide the groundwork on which the foundations for peace and development in Mindanao shall be laid,” said Rodriguez, who led seven congressmen in delivering sponsorship speeches calling for the approval of House Bill 5811 (the proposed BBL).
Former Budget and Finance Secretary Salvador Enriquez Jr., one of the convenors of “Bagong Sistema, Bagong Pag-asa,” said during the press briefing at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City that Puno is correct in saying that the root of the problem lies in the Constitution
“We share former Chief Justice Puno’s view that whether the law is passed or not, amended or not, it will not bring permanent peace because the problems are rooted in the Constitution – our government structure, the distribution of powers and its concentration in the hands of a few, the lack of proper representation,” Enriquez said.
Last week, Puno called for a change in the country’s political system to avert a crisis and provide the right framework for the envisioned Bangsamoro government.
Puno maintained that if passed in its “emerging” form, the BBL will most likely be questioned before the Supreme Court and if declared unconstitutional, it could put the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in a dilemma.
Puno also maintained that the prospect of lasting peace in the country is not certain because many groups feel they were excluded during the consultations done by the government peace panel.
He also pointed out that the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF and BBL is not inclusive of all stakeholders in Mindanao.
“You could have disorder in Mindanao especially with the presence of different groups with different agendas, including radical ones,” he said.
During the press briefing at the Club Filipino, the group announced the launch this week of a movement to press Congress to immediately pass a resolution calling for a Constitutional Convention and law prescribing the manner of election and selection of delegates.
Enriquez, in the same press briefing, explained that the BBL has provided the country an opportunity to review our entire political system so that a more effective, efficient, and united government that truly serves the interest of the nation can be established.
Permanent solution “We are already being rated and labeled as a ‘failing state.’ Let us not wait to become a failed state before we start addressing our national problems in a way that would bring about permanent solutions,” he said.
Enriquez said that they are in favor or changing the Constitution so that all Filipinos could benefit from it.
Enriquez also believes that there is enough time to change or revise the 1987 Constitution.
“This time I think there is a golden opportunity for us to craft a constitution to make it for the Filipino, to bring a good life to Filipinos,” Enriquez said.
“Mas maraming makikinabang na Filipino kung babaguhin ang Constitution (More Filipinos will benefit if the Constitution is amended),” he added.
The group will also be formally launched on June 6 at San Andres Gym, Manila.
Other former government officials and representatives of various sectors who attended the press briefing include Sanchez Ali, the founder of the United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines and former Philippine Ambassador to Oman; Ret. Maj. Gen. Ramon Montaño, former chief of the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP); Dr. Milwida Guevarra, chief executive officer of Synergia Foundation and former undersecretary of the Department of Finance; lawyer Ernesto Arellano, president of the National Federation of Labor; Gil Ramos, OFW representative; Noel Gallardo of the Urban Poor Sector Representative and chairman of AFCA, Inc.; and Henry Tomalabcad, president of the Kamalayang Pilipino Movement.
Addressing Muslim woes In pushing for passage of the bill, Rodriguez said, “This bill will address centuries of inherited disadvantages suffered by our Muslim brothers and sisters; will erase the accretions of antipathies against Muslim brothers and sisters; and will be an affirmative action to correct centuries of neglect and injustice on our Muslim brothers and sisters.”
Rodriguez said the controversial provision should not worry provinces and localities not adjacent to the original area of the Bangsamoro entity.
“Zambonga City, Zamboanga Norte, Zamboanga Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Palawan will never be covered by the opt-in provisions because they are not contiguous to any Bangsamoro area,” he said.
Also adding to the controversies triggered by the opt-in and the allegedly unconstitutional provisions are accusations of bribery leveled against backers of the bill, especially members of the Ad Hoc panel that unanimously voted to endorse plenary approval.
A news report has accused BBL supporters in the Lower House of having received 1 million cash and promised a budget of 50 million for their congressional districts.