MORO National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Datu Abul Khayr Alonto said on Friday that the proposed Bangsamoro basic law (BBL) is the best chance to achieve peace in Mindanao and build genuine autonomy that the Bangsamoro people struggled and aspired for decades.
“Ang BBL ang ating pinaka-mabisang batas upang maisakatuparan ang maayos na awtonomiya na hangad ng Bangsamoro sa ilang dekada. Ang BBL ay naayon sa sinabi sa Saligang Batas na karampatang awtonomiya para sa Muslim Mindanao at makikinabang dito lahat ng Bangsamoro at lahat ng Pilipino,” Alonto said in a statement.
The draft BBL, pending passage in Congress, implements the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which was signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on March 27, 2014.
Alonto appealed to lawmakers and the public to understand the importance of the passage of the BBL as key to implementing the signed CAB. “Our lawmakers have the historic role to pass this draft BBL, which is inclusive of all Bangsamoro and that shall end internal armed conflict in the south.”
He says the BBL shall be beneficial to all as it aims to achieve genuine political and fiscal autonomy and build on the gains of the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“There is no alternative to BBL. If the BBL is not passed, many of our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters in MILF will lose faith in the peaceful process of negotiating and implementing a peace agreement. They committed to transform into civilian life when the Bangsamoro is created. But, this will only happen if CAB is successfully realized.”
In March 2014 Alonto and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim in a statement expressed a reiteration of MNLF’s support to the “full implementation of the CAB” as published in the MNLF Declaration of Unity at Lama Mardeka.
The statement also cited that both Moro fronts agree to “continue working together to foster strong unity, solidarity and brotherhood as one Bangsamoro people.”
Alonto is a founding leader of the MNLF and first vice chairman of the original MNLF Central Committee.
Alonto expressed his support to BBL passage in various consultations conducted respectively by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the government peace panel.