CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Government of the Philippines (GPH) chief negotiator Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer believes it is the responsibility of would-be members of the next Congress to ensure the continuity of the Bangsamoro peace process by refiling and passing the stalled Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) while it was the responsibility of peace-loving voters to elect candidates who would do so.

“Alam natin na yung ihahalal ngayon sa House of Representatives, sila ang kailangan nating manguna sa pagpapatuloy nitong BBL -- yung Bangsamoro Basic Law -- sa pag-aayos niyan at pagtitiyak na isang magandang batas ang mailabas natin (We know that those who will be elected to the House of Representatives, they are the ones who will lead the continuation of the BBL -- the Bangsamoro Basic Law -- its improvement, and ensuring that a meaningful law is passed), said Ferrer in a recent interview with a radio station in this city where she attended the Usapang Kapayapan: A Forum for Congressional Candidates.

Usapang Kapayaapan is organized by the Philippine Information Agency in coordination with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). The forum-series aims to determine the stand of congressional hopefuls with regard the stalled bill and the Bangsamoro peace process.

Ferrer highlighted that passing the BBL should be a priority of the 17th Congress considering the collective failure of the last Congress to pass it last February before it adjourned. “[D]apat ipaalala natin sa lahat ng mga tumatakbo na isa itong mahalagang tungkulin ng ating susunod na Kongreso para sa gayon ay magkaroon talaga tayo ng pangmatagalan na good governance at tsaka kapayapaan dito sa Muslim Mindanao (We should remind all those who are running in the election that this is an important responsibility of the next Congress to ensure lasting good governance and peace in Muslim Mindanao).”

The GPH chief negotiator explained that the next election would be vital as it would direct the course of the peace process going forward. “Itong problema na ito, matagal na ito. Hindi naman ito basta-basta mawawala. Kailangan talaga yung active support ng lahat at kung papapatagalin pa natin ito baka lalo talagang lumala ang sitwasyon (This problem, this has been going on for a long time. We need everyone’s active support because if this conflict continues, there is a chance that the situation will worsen).”

“Nakita natin yung nangyayari sa ibat-ibang bansa, hindi ba?  Iba't-ibang mga bombings;  mga kabataan na naaakit nitong mga marahas na mga kilusan sa iba't-ibang bahagi ng mundo at ayaw natin mangyari yan. So ganoon yung halaga na binibigay natin dito at sana makita rin yan ng susunod na presidente, bise presidente, ating mga senador at saka yung ating mga congressmen at congresswomen (We are seeing what is happening in other countries, aren’t we? Bombings here and there; youth who are attracted to joining violent movements in different parts of the world and we don’t want those happening here. That’s how important this is and I hope the next president, vice president, the senators, as well as the congressmen and congresswomen will also see that).”

Former Secretary Senen Bacani, also a member of the GPH negotiating panel for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), added that it was imperative for the voting public to think about peace and development in choosing their next leaders and that was why it was important to engage all candidates as early as now.

“[I]mportante malaman ng taong bayan kung ano ang kanya-kanyang opinyon tungkol sa prosesong pangkapayapaan para matulungan sila para sa pag desisyon kung sino ang iboboto nila sa susunod na eleksyon (It is important for the general public to know the opinions of the candidates on the peace process to help the public decide who they will vote for in the upcoming election).”

Addressing the candidates directly, Bacani said that the next leaders must prioritize the peace process in order to establish a just and lasting peace in the country. “Inaasahan namin na kung sino man ang mahalal sa iba-ibang posisiyon sa susunod na eleksiyon, sana ay ipagpatuloy nila itong peace process.  Dahil ito rin naman ang nakikita nating solusiyon (We are expecting that whoever will get elected to the the different political positions in the upcoming election will continue the peace process. Because this is the only viable solution we have right now).”

“Kaya importante na ituloy natin yung proseso sa lalong madaling panahon para in the end, we will finally achieve a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.  Sinasabi nga nila, without justice and reconciliation, there will be no true peace (It is imperative that we continue the process so that in the end, we will finally achieve a just and lasting peace in Mindanao. As they say, without justice and reconciliation, there will be no true peace),” he concluded.