Gov’t to Push for Mindanao Peace Process Despite Maguindanao Incident- Palace Official

The government will continue to push for the Mindanao peace process despite Sunday’s encounter between the police and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said on Monday.

“Ang pananaw ng pamahalaan ay hindi nagbabago. Mahalaga ang peace process sa Mindanao, mahalaga ang pagpasa ng Bangsamoro Basic Law at patuloy pa ring itinataguyod ang prosesong pangkapayaan,” he said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

Some 43 members of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) died and 11 were injured during the encounter with members of the MILF.

The police were in the area to arrest Malaysian terror suspect, Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, and Filipino bomb-making expert, Abdul Bassit Usman, who have been blamed for terror attacks in Mindanao.

Asked about the announcement earlier made by chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, Senator Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos, that he will stop Senate consultations regarding the Bangsamoro Basic Law due to the incident, Coloma said this is the Senate’s prerogative.

“Karapatan naman po ng Senado ang pagtatakda ng mga pagdinig hinggil diyan. Nauunawaan natin na dahil sa ulat hinggil sa napabalitang insidente sa Maguindanao kahapon ay hahanap ng paliwanag ang ating mga mambabatas tungkol sa ano ba talaga ang naganap. Kaya’t nauunawaan naman namin ang kanilang hakbang na tinukoy,” he said.

“Ganunpaman, ay patuloy pa rin ang pagtataguyod natin ng prosesong pangkapayapaan at ang pagtingin sa posibleng pagsasabatas ng Bangsamoro Basic Law dahil ito ay mahalagang hakbang sa prosesong pangkapayapaan,” he added.

The government and the MILF signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on March 27 last year, in an effort to end the decades-long conflict in Mindanao.

The draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law is currently being discussed in Congress. PND (ag)