By Jose Rodel Clapano, Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has urged the next Philippine president to re-file the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and ensure its early passage.

In a statement, the Peace Process Media Bureau said OIC Secretary General Iyad bin al-Madani urged the succeeding administration to re-file the BBL as he expressed his disappointment over the failure of the current Congress to pass it.

“The Secretary General expressed his deep disappointment over the non-passage of the BBL which is a major step towards the final resolution of the Bangsamoro question. (He) urged all parties to remain fully committed to the process and to stay the course of peace. He urged the incoming administration to re-file the BBL as originally agreed upon and ensure its early passage,” the statement read.

Madani met with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Alhaj Murad Ebrahim Sunday when the latter said his group would continue to uphold the peace process and call on the Bangsamoro people to remain patient and rally behind the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

“At the same time, the Secretary General warned of the adverse effect of the delay of adopting the BBL or adopting a modified weak version of it, on human, security and developmental aspect of the region. He also warned against the risk of worsening the situation that could allow the spread of violent extremism,” the statement also read.

It quoted Madani as saying, “A failure of peace process could adversely affect the good relations existing between the Philippines and the Muslim world.

“He further urged the leaders of the Bangsamoro people, in particular the MILF and the MNLF, to utilize the existing mechanism – Bangsamoro Coordinating Forum (BCF) – to achieve a more unified position and a more coherent consolidated and sustainable cooperation for the benefit of the Bangsamoro people,” the Peace Process Media Bureau said.

The killing of 44 members of the police Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January 2015 by members of the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters jeopardized the approval of the BBL.

The policemen were out to arrest an international terrorist who was living in MILF controlled areas.

But MILF vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar believed that the failure to pass the BBL could also be attributed to the “division among the Bangsamoro people.”

He noted that even if the Bangsamoro has been engaged in peace talks for the past 30 years, it would “continue a peaceful process until Mindanao achieves an equally lasting peace.”