Neutral ground

FOLLOWING the bloodbath between the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Sunday, Jan. 25, the fate of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) hangs in a balance.
The Bangsamoro Basic Law is a peace pact made between the national government and Muslim rebels in the country to allow comprehensive growth and development in the southern region. It will also guarantee stability and harmony among the citizenry. It has been gaining headway, and an expected passage in the legislature was already underway.
But after the Maguindanao “misencounter,” all efforts to achieve the historic peace process may be losing steam. Consultations related to the passage of the BBL have been suspended. And with two senators withdrawing support from the measure, a majority vote is no longer guaranteed and the BBL’s future in Congress is compromised.
“I decided to suspend indefinitely all discussions and hearings related to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law until this is clarified. We cannot in conscience, proceed with these hearings while a cloud of serious doubt hangs over the security situation in the south. A peace agreement cannot be legislated under the threat of such extreme violence. Violence has no room in a civilized society,“ Sen. Bongbong Marcos, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, said. Marcos is holding onto the suspension until involved parties are able to explain the incident.
Now this nagging and decades-long question remains: will peace remain elusive in Mindanao?
Condemning the death of 44 elite police forces from the Maguindanao clash, Malacañang Palace also urged legislators not to overlook the ultimate goal of achieving lasting peace and stability in Mindanao.
“While recognizing the challenges posed by the violent incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, it is important to keep in mind the vital objective of attaining long-term peace, stability and progress in Mindanao,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said.
“Those who have expressed reservations about supporting the enactment of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law may wish to consider the adverse consequences of not pursuing the peace process, such as a possible return to the old order characterized by ‘warlordism’, lawlessness, misuse of public funds, and the near-total breakdown of governance,” Coloma added.
While the situation still looks grim and tension continuously arising, concerned parties should not take any chances and lose sight of the bigger picture. As in any conflict, this current crisis must be ruled by principle and not by force.
It may never happen overnight, but through a pragmatic approach, the adverse effects of violence and terrorism in the country, especially in Mindanao, can be reduced. Only then will a decisive resolution arise.
For now, the future of the BBL and peace situation in the region stands in a gray area. For some, this is an ethical dilemma that is neither right nor wrong. But the gray area also means an opportunity. Peace and solidarity remain the common goal in the region. The vision is clear, what remains is its manifestation.
(AJPress)