Muslim Group Asks Gov’t to Fast Track BBL

(PNA) –- The Muslim community in this port capital of Northern Mindanao on Monday urged the government to fast track the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress.

The Muslim community has expressed the apprehension that the incident between the law enforcers and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Magundanao could derail the peace initiative unless the BBL is approved immediately, a Muslim leader said.

Forty-four members of the elite Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) died in a clash with the MILF and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamapasano, Maguindanao last January 25.

Agakhan Mangondato Sharif, chairman of the National Movement for Peace and Development (NMPD), said that the Muslim community is expecting that the BBL would be approved in March this year and feared that any delay might affect the peace process.

Sharif said that the members of the NMPD are now campaigning around Mindanao for the early approval of the BBL to achieve lasting peace in the island.

He said that the NMPD has also sought the assistance of the media for the dissemination of information on the significance of the BBL for the people of Mindanao in particular and the country in general.

Sharif expressed the fear that once the filing of candidacy for the local elections in 2016 starts in October this year, the approval of the BBL and peace agreement between the government and the MILF would be imperiled. (PNA) LAP/CD/ERCEL MAANDIG/SSC