The Senate Local Government Committee conducts on Monday its penultimate hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) with representatives of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, and the indigenous peoples (IPs) invited to express their views and concerns on the controversial peace measure.
“We want to know the sentiments of the sultanates about BBL. From what we learned in our recent hearings, they said they were never consulted in the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the (secessionist) Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that would be implemented through the BBL,” said Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., committee chairman.
“Unless BBL addresses the concerns of the majority of the stakeholders, and not just those of the MILF, I’m afraid we will not be able to realize our dream of a lasting peace in Muslim Mindanao,” Marcos added.
Marcos said the last hearing set for June 3 would focus on concerns of local executives in areas to be included as core territories of the Bangsamoro under the BBL, as well as in adjacent local government units (LGUs).
Among the guests in Monday’s hearing include Esmail Kiram II, who was installed as the Sultan of Sulu in 2013 following the death of his predecessor Jamalul Kiram III, as well as representatives of sultanates in other areas of Mindanao.
Also invited in the Monday hearing are representatives from indigenous peoples of Mindanao.
Manila Bulletin
