If the Aquino government could push for the speedy approval of the Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous
Region in the House of Representatives, it should also have the same zeal to immediately deliver justice for the 44 elite police commandos who were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25, the House independent bloc dared yesterday.
Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who leads the group said the government should follow suit to the speedy action of the 98-man House ad hoc panel when it approved the peace measure last week.
“We always support the peace process provided it is legal and constitutional. But the government should not forget our Fallen 44 heroes,” he said.
He maintained that a well-crafted Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is need to ensure that it could hurdle any legal scrutiny.
“If the government can push for the speedy approval of the BBL, it should also give similar emphasis on giving justice for the victims,” Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), pointed out.
He noted that many of his colleagues were seemingly unconvinced to support the proposed creation of the Bangsamoro juridical entity because of the failure of the Aquino government to immediately run after the killers of the “SAF 44.”
Manila Bulletin
