‘Peace council an avenue for dialogue, not a pressure group’

MANILA, Philippines – Amid apprehensions about the role that the peace council will play in relation to discussions on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, the group sought to clarify it is “not a pressure group or a political movement” but an “avenue for dialogue.” 

“We would like to emphasize that we are not a pressure group or a political movement; but rather, we are a group that would like to provide an avenue for dialogue between independent-minded citizens who believe in the importance of understanding the BBL and to discuss its implications for peace and development in our country at a fair and reasonable manner,” the group said Wednesday, April 1, in a statement. 

“We have no intentions to go beyond our self-imposed task of helping ourselves and our fellow citizens understand the importance of the peace issues at hand,” it added.  

President Benigno Aquino III announced the creation of the citizens council on the anniversary of the signing of the peace deal between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the basis of the BBL now stuck in Congress. 

The development came two months after the deadly Mamasapano clash that killed 67 Filipinos, resulting in a political fallout that eroded support for the BBL. (READ: 62% of Mindanao residents oppose BBL – Pulse Asia)

In its statement, the citizens’ council gave a preview of its plans for the coming weeks.

Although it was the President himself who “invited” the “citizen leaders” to lead a National Peace Summit to discuss the proposed law, the council maintains it will remain independent. 

As an “independent body” and a private sector-led activity, the group said their funding will come from “the private sector and development partners,” not the government. 

“Related to this, we have also agreed to form a secretariat that will be tasked to put together the appropriate plan, timetable, system for publicity, security detailing, program mechanics, statements, venue, and printing of final summit report, more details of which will be announced after the Holy Week,” the group said. 

The council has agreed to consolidate the output of its “consultations, discussions, learnings and insights” in a report that would be submitted to “our fellow countrymen, the President, the legislature, and the judiciary.”

The group said it is set to name more “pro-peace and pro-dialogue” advocates, as well as invite experts and resource persons “as deemed necessary” after the Holy Week.

Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Representative Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the BBL, said it would be ideal if the council could submit their recommendations before committee deliberations on the measure resumes on April 20 so these can be included in discussions before the scheduled voting in May. 

Present members of the council include Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr, businessman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, former Philippine ambassador to the Holy See and Malta Howard Dee, and founder of Teach Peace, Build Peace Movement Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman.

The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law needs to be passed in Congress and ratified in a plebiscite before the proposed Bangsamoro autonomous region can be created. 

The measure seeks to create an enhanced autonomous region in Mindanao with more teeth than the current one in place. In exchange, the MILF agreed to a staggered decommissioning of firearms under the peace deal. – Rappler.com