Govt peace negotiator Coronel-Ferrer hopeful BBL bill can now move forward

Government Peace Panel chair Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer is hoping that the submission of the report on the Mamasapano incident by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will let the peace process continue and get Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) bill moving again.

 

“Ganun sana ang mangyari dahil mas malaking usapin ang prosesong pangkapayapaan na isinasagawa sa Mindanao at sa mga lugar na maaaring masaklaw ng Bangsamoro political entity. Buhay at kamatayan 'yan para sa mga tao doon, lalo na sa mga umasa na naitataguyod talaga ang ceasefire. Marami talaga ang umaasa dito at sana hindi mawala ang kanilang pag-asa," Ferrer said in a phone interview with GMA News' Balitanghali newscast on Wednesday.

 

Ferrer also said that while reports from the Philippine National Police-Board of Inquiry, the Senate, and the latest report from MILF give different perspectives on the January 25 clash, accountability remains of utmost importance. 

 

"Para sa akin naman, ang mga reports na ito ay nagbibigay ng iba't ibang perspective, pero at the end of the day, ang pananagutan ay ibabatay sa mga ebidensyang magagamit sa korte. Kaya ang pinakamahalagang aksyon diyan ay kung ano ang ilalabas ng Department of Justice in terms of very specific charges against very specific individuals," she said.

 

The peace panel chair anticipates the final decision regarding the Mamasapano clash now that all versions of reports have been released and made public.

 

According to Ferrer, aside from additional information about the clash and new perspectives on the incident, these reports will be used by the International Monitoring Team to clear up the issue of the violation of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF that was signed in 1997. — Bianca Rose Dabu/ELR/KG, GMA News