Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao (CNN Philippines, November 27) — Presidential Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he would push for a special session of Congress in a bid to fast-track a bill granting autonomy to an area of Mindanao, a priority of the administration.
Duterte said he would ensure the inclusion of all concerned groups in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) which was “sacred” to him.
“Ang akin, it must be inclusive. Lahat. Walang maiwan dito sa peace talks na ito. The MILF, the MNLF, lahat na. Lumad. Kailangan kasali,” speaking before a huge crowd which included members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“But I will now state my condition. I will work very hard for it. I will ask Congress for a special session just to hear you talk about this. Sabi ko, ito sagrado, importante ‘to at mahalaga ‘to,” he added.
[Translation: For me, it must be inclusive. For everyone. No one should be left behind in the peace talks. The MILF, the MNLF, everyone. Lumads. They have to be included. But I will now state my condition. I will work very hard for it. I will ask Congress for a special session just to hear you talk about it. I’ve said this is sacred, this is important.]
Duterte was in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao for the Bangsamoro Assembly where people from Mindanao and Palawan gathered to show their support for the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
READ: MILF to lead gathering to show support for BBL
The assembly was a difficult event to put togther as the MILF said around a million people came to the event, but only 4,000 were allowed inside the venue due to security restrictions.
Some guests took about four hours to reach the venue. Others traveled for even longer.
More than 20,000 — mostly unarmed — Moro fighters lined the streets to help keep order.
Despite what seemed like a chaotic situation, the Moro Islamic Liberation Fron (MILF) said it showed the people’s support for the BBL.
An earlier draft BBL failed to pass in the last Congress primarily because of the bloody 2015 Mamasapano encounter where 44 elite troops of the Philippine National Police were killed by a splinter group of the MILF.
This new version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law has the support of the MILF, as well as leaders of Christian and indigenous peoples communities.
The influence of Duterte, who is from Mindanao, is seen as key to gaining support for the proposed law, which is part of a peace agreement between the government and the MILF.
In his speech, Duterte said he would work for the approval of the proposed BBL with one thing in mind: to build a Philippines for all, “Moro and Christians alike.” He reiterated that the country should stay as one republic for all Filipinos – Christians, Muslims, and Lumad.
