MANILA, Philippines - Every Filipino needs to understand and get involved in the ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Malacañang said yesterday, after President Aquino announced the holding of a national peace summit with representatives from different sectors as independent convenors.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the details of the summit would be up to the convenors who would gather other responsible and respected leaders to spearhead the event – how it would be executed and the number of days it would be held.
On Friday, Aquino stood firm in his belief that the peace process must be pursued and that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) must be passed or the nation would have “to count body bags later on” because of war in Mindanao.
Aquino invited “citizen leaders known for their wisdom and integrity” as independent convenors that included Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, former Supreme Court chief justice Hilario Davide Jr., businessman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, former ambassador and peace advocate Howard Dee and Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, founder of Teach Peace Build Peace Movement, a non-profit organization with a mission of making every youth a peace builder.
Aquino said the independent convenors would dissect the proposed law in a calm and reasonable manner that would not incite anger and hopelessness.
“This way, the BBL can be improved. They will write a report that will be made public, so that everyone may be informed, and so that more of our countrymen may understand the matter. In this manner, we will be able to advance a reasonable decision as regards the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” the President said.
Valte said the inputs from the summit would not be useless even as Congress deliberated on the proposed BBL because it would collect different positions or opinions from all sectors of society.
“This is an issue that everyone needs to understand. It is an issue that everyone needs to be able to dissect in a rational manner, so why oppose a space that could help the public understand and improve the draft BBL?” Valte argued.
Valte said the convenors would not in any way usurp the work of the lawmakers and there was nothing wrong in involving the people in the peace process.
Philstar
