Boxing superstar and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao said his province is “already peaceful”, thus there is no need to include it in the envisioned Bangsamoro territory under the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Pacquiao on Tuesday clarified his stand on the Ad Hoc Committee-approved draft bill of the BBL–now titled the Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region–as far as its provision on “contiguous territory” and its impact on Saranggani is concerned.
In a press statement, the second-term lawmaker underscored that “there is no need to include Saranggani in the proposed Bangsamoro region because there is already relative peace and order in the province”.
He added that the inclusion of Sarangani and other parts of Mindanao “may cause instability and further complicate our search for inclusive lasting peace”.
“I recognize the need to pass a law that will govern the area to ensure lasting peace and order which are the keys to economic prosperity and development in the region and throughout Mindanao,” said the rarely-seen boxer-cum- solon and basketball enthusiast.
Earlier, YACAP party-list Rep. Carol Lopez, a Minority member and close friend of Pacquiao, claimed that the latter was planning to withdraw support for the Bangsamoro bill after it dawned on him that Saranggani could be lassoed into the Bangsamoro area via the opt-in provision.
MANILA BULLETIN
