As the new year began, the leaders of both chambers of Congress have been talking of prioritizing the shift to a federal system of government by convening the Senate and the House of Representatives into a constituent assembly in January to revise the 1987 Constitution towards that end. Perhaps reckoning how easily and swiftly, in…
By Satur C. Ocampo At Ground Level | The Philippine Star It almost looks certain: the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, now being deliberated in both chambers of the 16th Congress, can become another “failed experiment” – which is how President Aquino depicts the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao. The BBL aims to replace the ARMM…
“The treatment of the BBL is one such example that shows there are no serious efforts to achieve peace in the country today.” – Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective The headlines of major dailies trumpeted the symbolic decommissioning of 145 fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the turning over of 75 high-powered firearms. It is supposed to be a positive step toward peace. Also it was used as an occasion by the Aquino government to push for…
By Carol Pagaduan-Araullo Streetwise | BusinessWorld Malacañang’s damage-control measures for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) after the Mamasapano fiasco is going full throttle. No less than President Benigno S. C. Aquino has applied carrot-and-stick pressure tactics on his congressional allies. This has resulted in the passage of the latest Malacañang-stamped version by the House ad…
“We regard the approved BBL as a Malacañang and Liberal Party BBL.” – Suara Bangsamoro
“Those who would reject it will continue the struggle. The tragedy here is we are repeating history.”
“We are for peace and we do hope that they are with us in achieving this dream for our people.”
The widows said that losing their husbands and the fathers of their children “weighed more than the thousands of bullets and armaments used in this continuing operations.”
“The basic question is: will the BBL address the basic problems of right to self-determination, poverty and ancestral domain?”
“The MILF is bound by processes and documents, if we are to be held accountable, we would do that, instead of covering up, or absolving them.”