By Joann Santiago
MANILA, Mar 16 (PNA) — Malacanang on Monday said it remains optimistic that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be approved within the targeted timeframe amidst issues being thrown against it.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a statement said, “what we know is that both sides continue to work on confidence-building measures and on seeing to it that an acceptable Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) may be enacted by Congress within the time frame set by the leadership of both houses. “
”Government remains firmly committed to establishing enduring peace, which is built on a foundation of mutual trust,” he said.
Coloma’s statement was issued after news reports came out quoting Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al Haj Murad as saying that trust between the MILF and the government has been affected following the incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January.
Members of the MILF and the police’s Special Action Force (SAF) had a “misencounter” during the SAF’s operation dubbed Oplan Exodus , which is targeted to arrest Malaysian Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Filipino Ahmad Akmad Batabol Usman, alias Basit Usman last January 25.
Results of the investigation by the Philippine National Police-established Board of Inquiry (BOI) showed that “the protocols of the established peace process mechanisms, through the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), were not observed during the planning and execution of Oplan Exodus.”
The incident raised questions on whether the proposed BBL measure can still be approved within the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, which is until the middle of 2016.
Relatively, reports have come out saying Murad and MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal have Malaysian passports.
Coloma said Iqbal have denied these claims and said that these are “baseless.”
He said citizenship of the MILF officials “has never been questioned” since the peace talks started.
”In fact, both houses of Congress have recognized their legitimate roles in the peace process by inviting them to appear in congressional hearings,” he said. (PNA)