Hundreds join peace rallies in support of Bangsamoro law

MANILA, Philippines – Hear Mindanao.

This is the plea of hundreds of Bangsamoro Basic Law supporters in simultaneous peace rallies held in parts of Mindanao and Manila on Tuesday, February 10. 

The event, dubbed as the “Bangsamoro National Day of Mourning and Prayer,” called for the immediate passage of the BBL.

“BBL is the antidote for violence. Without the Bangsamoro government in place, violence in Mindanao, even in Luzon and Visayas, could become malignant,” said Agakhan M. Sharief, chairman of the Bangsamoro National Movement Peace and Development (BNMPD).

However, the passage of the BBL will not likely happen soon.

Immediate passing of BBL? 

On Monday, February 9, the ad hoc committee tackling the BBL “indefinitely” suspended the deliberations to give way to the ongoing probe into the Mamasapano operation that killed 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the ad hoc committee, added that they will no longer meet the initial March 2015 deadline.

“The Mamasapano incident is so grave that it (resumption of deliberations) depends on the findings of the committees. The findings that we have will affect our deliberations,” Rodriguez added. (AS IT HAPPENS: Senate hearing on PNP-SAF Mamasapano clash, day 2)

Participants in the protests carried banners with bold statements supporting the BBL such as “Don’t give up on BBL” and “If you fail BBL, we all fail.” 

In a Facebook post of Drieza Laninding, one of the organizers of the event, Ranao Confederation for Peace (RCP) chairman Musa Sultan, described the participants as “angry and frustrated.” 

Sultan also criticized the media coverage of the Mamasapano incident.

MILF and civilians 

What about the civilians and MILF members who were also killed during the deadly Mamasapano encounter?

This question was also raised by speakers from various religious and professional sectors who delivered speeches during the protests. 

“As if  the whole Muslim-Moro Community is guilty of a crime without even appreciating the reports made available regarding the incident,” Sultan added.

In Marawi City, protesters burned images of national leaders they consider as “war mongers” or “anti-peace.”

Organizers of the protest also collected “piso-piso against injustices” donations from participants. Proceeds will go directly to the families of the MILF and civilians killed in the January 25 encounter.

According to the organizers, while families of the fallen 44 PNP SAF are expected to receive huge amounts of money from the government, families of the slain MILF and civilians will receive nothing. – Rappler.com