Ni ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS
Sa layuning maisulong ang pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa Mindanao, sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte na handa siyang gamitin ang kanyang kapangyarihan sakaling hindi mapagtibay ng Kongreso ang Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Ayon kay Peace Process Adviser Jesus Dureza, nangako noong nakaraang linggo si Pangulong Duterte sa mga pinuno ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sa Davao City na tatalakayin niya sa parehong kapulungan ng Kongreso ang kahalagahan ng pagpapasa sa BBL.
Sakaling hindi pa rin mapagtibay ang BBL, sinabi ni Dureza na handa ang Pangulo na gamitin ang kapangyarihan nito upang maisakatuparan ang kanyang ipinangako.
“The President said he would assist even to the extent of relaying to both chambers of Congress his determination to help push for the passage of the BBL that is compliant with the comprehensive agreement of the Bangsamoro, and as close as possible, to the new draft law submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission,” ani Dureza. “In the event [that] this does not take place in Congress, he said he would go to the extent of even exercising his residual powers through administrative directives to fulfill this commitment.”
Dagdag pa ni Dureza, kapwa nangako sina Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at Senator Miguel Zubiri na susuportahan ang BBL at pagtitibayin ito bilang batas bago pa matapos ang Kongreso sa Mayo 15.
“She [Arroyo] said she would withdraw authorship of her previously signed bill to fast track the approval of the new version. Senate sub-committee chair Senator Miguel Zubiri, who was then in London, also said the Senate would act on the bill before Congress adjourns ‘sine die’ on May 15 this year,” sabi ni Dureza.
Sa kanyang panig, sinabi naman ni MILF Chairman Al- Hajj Murad Ebrahim na hindi kailanman pinagdudahan ng MILF ang sinseridad ng Pangulo sa pagpapasa ng BBL.