and Mistrustand Mistrust **

and Mistrust

A

Attytty. A. Anna nna TTaarrhahata ta SS. B. Baassmamann

Head, G

Head, GPPH PeaH Peace ce PPaanel nel LLegaegal l TTeaeamm

 A

 A

The past weeks have taken a toll on the peace process.the peace process.

Public opinion, which a couple of months ago

Public opinion, which a couple of months ago was overwhelminglywas overwhelmingly positive and in favor of our milestones in the negotiating table, has positive and in favor of our milestones in the negotiating table, has generally turned against it. Sincerity and commitment are constantly generally turned against it. Sincerity and commitment are constantly questioned. Timelines and deadlines have been reset. The BBL, questioned. Timelines and deadlines have been reset. The BBL, decommissioning, and other aspects of

decommissioning, and other aspects of the Comprehensive Agreementthe Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro are under even stricter scrutiny.

on the Bangsamoro are under even stricter scrutiny.

The past weeks have taken a toll on our

The past weeks have taken a toll on our dynamics as a multiculturaldynamics as a multicultural Filipino society. Naiveté has perhaps made some of us believe that we Filipino society. Naiveté has perhaps made some of us believe that we were slowly achieving national reconciliation and understanding only were slowly achieving national reconciliation and understanding only to find out that division was

to find out that division was still brimming on the surface just waitingstill brimming on the surface just waiting for a trigger to explode.

for a trigger to explode.

But more tragically, the past weeks have taken a toll on the lives But more tragically, the past weeks have taken a toll on the lives of the families, friends, and loved ones of the sixty-five or sixty-seven of the families, friends, and loved ones of the sixty-five or sixty-seven Filipinos who died on

Filipinos who died on that fateful day in that fateful day in MamasapanMamasapano.o.

Calls for justice abound. And rightfully so. Every single one of them Calls for justice abound. And rightfully so. Every single one of them deserves no less than to

deserves no less than to have those responsible held accountable for thehave those responsible held accountable for the loss of lives. Let us call for justice but not prejudge.

loss of lives. Let us call for justice but not prejudge.

* This opening statement was delivered during the Media Roundtable on the

* This opening statement was delivered during the Media Roundtable on the Bangsamoro Basic Law held at Pearlmont Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City, on 21 Bangsamoro Basic Law held at Pearlmont Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City, on 21 February 2015.

February 2015.

Let Reason and Facts Sway Our Opinion,

Let Reason and Facts Sway Our Opinion, Not Deeply Held Biases …Not Deeply Held Biases …

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Let reason and facts sway our opinion, not deeply held biases and Let reason and facts sway our opinion, not deeply held biases and mistrust.

mistrust.

Let us also not view this incident in isolation.

Let us also not view this incident in isolation.

The reality of the fragility of the security situation in a The reality of the fragility of the security situation in a conflict-affected area i

affected area is precisely ts precisely that—a reality. hat—a reality. WWe offer the Bangse offer the Bangsamoro Basicamoro Basic Law not as a

Law not as a be-all-and-ebe-all-and-end-all solution to the decades-long conflict butnd-all solution to the decades-long conflict but as a crucial

as a crucial step towards the right direction—the direstep towards the right direction—the direction of recognizingction of recognizing historical injustices, the need to address them, and only then to move historical injustices, the need to address them, and only then to move on. We offer the BBL as a means of establishing a regional government on. We offer the BBL as a means of establishing a regional government with the authority to craft and implement government policies that with the authority to craft and implement government policies that are closer and more responsive to the peculiar needs of these specific are closer and more responsive to the peculiar needs of these specific communities. We offer the BBL as a step towards normalizing the communities. We offer the BBL as a step towards normalizing the situation on the ground, where law

situation on the ground, where law and order prevail not because of fearand order prevail not because of fear of military might but

of military might but because of the general sense of belongingness andbecause of the general sense of belongingness and empowermen

empowerment without the need to t without the need to use arms.use arms.

This step definitely involves not only

This step definitely involves not only the parties to the the parties to the agreement,agreement, not only the negotiators, not only the various peoples living within the not only the negotiators, not only the various peoples living within the Bangsamoro, but the entire country. If there is one thing that came out Bangsamoro, but the entire country. If there is one thing that came out right from all these, it is that we are given the chance to introduce to right from all these, it is that we are given the chance to introduce to the public consciousness the roots of

the public consciousness the roots of the conflict—the horrors sufferedthe conflict—the horrors suffered not only in the hands of foreign colonizers but also those in power not only in the hands of foreign colonizers but also those in power thereafter. Indeed, voices to this effect have always been weak but they thereafter. Indeed, voices to this effect have always been weak but they are getting stronger by the day.

are getting stronger by the day.

 W

 We e offer offer the the BBL BBL as as an an essentessential ial tool tool towatowards rds giving giving the the BangsBangsamoroamoro something that is guaranteed in

something that is guaranteed in international law and reiterated in ourinternational law and reiterated in our Constitution—their right to self-determination within the bounds of Constitution—their right to self-determination within the bounds of our Supreme Law. By all means review the BBL. Make it stronger and our Supreme Law. By all means review the BBL. Make it stronger and less susceptible to judicial nulli

less susceptible to judicial nullification. Let our lawmakers come up withfication. Let our lawmakers come up with a BBL that will stand constitutional scrutiny and address the legitimate a BBL that will stand constitutional scrutiny and address the legitimate grievanc

grievances of the Bangsamoro. Wes of the Bangsamoro. We remain confident that our legise remain confident that our legislatorslators will not shirk from this duty.

will not shirk from this duty.

The events of late also provide us the opportunity to review and The events of late also provide us the opportunity to review and recheck our perspective.

recheck our perspective.

 W

 We e have have to to stop stop thinking thinking of of the the BBL BBL as as a a reward to reward to the the MILFMILF, , aa prize they earned after negotiating

prize they earned after negotiating with the Government for seventeenwith the Government for seventeen

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long years. We need to realize that the BBL is a government action, a long years. We need to realize that the BBL is a government action, a legislation, that is due all Moros, all Lumads, all Christian settlers, all legislation, that is due all Moros, all Lumads, all Christian settlers, all Filipinos in conflict-affected areas who are tired of

Filipinos in conflict-affected areas who are tired of the status quo, whothe status quo, who are tired of living their lives awaiting the next armed skirmish—whatever are tired of living their lives awaiting the next armed skirmish—whatever the trigger may be—that will leave them IDPs (internally displaced the trigger may be—that will leave them IDPs (internally displaced persons), out-of-school youths, orphans, widows, or worse, dead. We persons), out-of-school youths, orphans, widows, or worse, dead. We should start recognizing that taking away the BBL

should start recognizing that taking away the BBL is not a punishmentis not a punishment to the MILF but a disservice

to the MILF but a disservice to all the Filipinos who have offered theirto all the Filipinos who have offered their lives for peace in Minda

lives for peace in Mindanao—the fortynao—the forty-four from the SAF-four from the SAF, the eighteen, the eighteen from the MILF, the three or five civilians, and the 120,000 nameless from the MILF, the three or five civilians, and the 120,000 nameless others all cr

others all crying out for jying out for justice and peace iustice and peace in the Bangsamoro. Wn the Bangsamoro. We shoulde should not further add to the

not further add to the statistics.statistics.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

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