Bangsamoro Basic Law

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Answers during the Press Conference on the Truth Commission Launch

Q: Ano ang magiging scope ng iimbestigahan ng Truth Commission?

 

Bam: I think ngayon kasi ang daming misinformation na umiikot. Marami tayong nakukuhang mga text, mga post sa social media, contradictory, magkakaiba-iba and sometimes downright talagang misinformation.

Ang pinakamahalaga rito sa Truth Commission ay mailabas niya kung ano ba talaga iyong nangyari. What really happened, what really transpired and at the end, also go towards accountabilities. Kung ano ba ang accountabilities ng bawat grupo.

Right now, kung titingnan mo talaga iyong mga information na lumalabas, halu-halo tsaka magkaka-iba-iba.

The purpose of this is to really ferret out the truth and eventually deemed towards accountability. Makuha talaga ang hustisya na hinahanap ng taumbayan.

On the other hand, kung ano talaga ang nangyari doon sa operational matters of this Oplan Wolverine, so to speak, maganda talagang makita natin. We really need to find out the minutest detail what really happened and whose really accountable.

 

Q: With several bodies investigating, there might be confusion in the process and how would you deal with irreconcilable statements?

 

Bam: Unang-una, I’m of the mindset that these parallel bodies that will investigate, they really need to happen because iba’t ibang perspective iyan.

The PNP Board of Inquiry will of course report based on their perspective as policeman. The Senate will conduct its own inquiry and the House, at some point, will also conduct its own inquiry.

In fact, what we produce can be consolidated, can be verified, puwedeng ibangga sa output ng Truth Commission. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na isang Truth Commission, isa lang dapat ang nag-iimbestiga.

Different groups can investigate. Even the media is already investigating. I mean, it’s not a government body pero patuloy rin ang pag-iimbestiga ng media.

Mahalaga na lumalabas lahat ng mga perspektibong ito. Mahalaga na makita natin ang iba’t ibang signs but again this Truth Commission, if legislated, will be the body that is supposed out with finality doon sa fact-finding aspect of what happened.

I can probably imagine that the output of all these bodies will also be entered into the Truth Commission’s work. Kapag naglabas na sila ng fact-finding output o ng kanilang report, ganoon po ang lalamanin ng lahat ng government bodies na nagsagawa rin ng kanilang imbestigasyon.

 

Q: How critical is the result of this Truth Commission to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law?

 

A: I think it’s quite critical. Mahalaga po talaga. I think all of us here are supportive of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Wala naman ho sa amin dito ang nag-withdraw ng aming suporta.

Pero ang hinahanap ng taumbayan ngayon hustisya. We need to find justice and the truth with regard to this issue upang pagbalik ng ating talks natin sa BBL, mas mapapalakas pa natin iyong BBL. Mas mapapalakas pa natin iyong kagustuhang magkaroon ng kapayapaan.

I predict that the BBL will probably have to be modified, or changed or amended based on what had happened.

Hindi naman puwede namang mawala na lang ito. I think iyong hangarin na magkaroon ng kapayapaan, hindi rin puwedeng mawala.

Definitely, there will be repercussions and changes in the BBL because of what happened not just because of the report of the Truth Commission.

Palagay ko, mahalaga na i-state natin na ang kapayapaan sa Mindanao, mahalaga po iyan, kailangan pong ipagpatuloy iyan. Kailangang ipagpalaban iyan but not at the expense of anything else.

Hanapin po natin ang hustisya dito sa isyung ito. Iyon naman ang hinahanap ng mga pamilya ng mga namatay na SAF 44.

Iyan din ang hinahanap ng taumbayan. Hanapin natin ang katotohanan.

Let’s hold accountable those who need to be held accountable so that if we resume the talks sa BBL or when we continue the push for peace, mas magiging malakas pa ang pagtulak natin sa kapayapaan.

 

Q: In the meantime, the passage of the BBL will be delayed?

 

A: Na-suspend po ang hearing sa BBL pero marami pong isyu na dapat talakayin doon. Senator Miriam is tackling constitutionality. Sa amin pong opisina, maraming pong naghikayat ng concerns ng indigenous people at kabataan.

A lot of these meetings and hearings can probably continue but the final output natin, talagang maaapektuhan po iyan nitong ating mga pinag-uusapan. Kasi hindi naman po siyan basta-basta ipapasa.

Marami pa pong kailangang gawing pag-aaral, hearings na tuluy-tuloy naman po ang pagsasagawa niyan.

I would suggest that we settle the issue on the SAF 44, iyong justice for SAF 44 as soon as possible so we can really get back to the BBL as soon as possible also.

 

 

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview at the KOMPRe People’s Conference in San Fernando, Pampanga

On the Fallen 44 and the Bangsamoro Basic Law

Sisikapin naming magkaroon ng hustisya para sa mga kasamahan natin na pinatay. Of course, kasama ako sa sumuporta sa Bangsamoro Basic Law. Ang hangarin natin na magkaroon ng kapayapaan, tuluy-tuloy pa rin naman iyan.

In the meantime na nangyari na ang trahedyang ito, hanapin muna natin iyong hustisya. Tingnan natin kung sino ba iyong kailangang managot dito on both sides.

Sabi ko nga, both sides are accountable. Hanapin natin kung sino ba talaga iyong dapat ma-charge, dapat maaresto. 

Siguraduhin natin na mangyari ang hustisya.

Q: Iyong hearing po ba itutuloy?

A: Tuloy ang hearing. That’s going to be on Wednesday.

Gaya ng maraming Pilipino, gusto po nating malaman kung ano talaga ang nangyari. Sino ang nag-utos, bakit sila napunta sa ganoong klaseng perhuwisyo at bakit nagpatuloy ang bakbakan nang ganoong katagal.

Marami sa atin ang na-shock, nagalit, nagdalamhati dahil sa nangyari.

Ang taumbayan po natin, naghahanap ng hustisya para sa ating mga kapatid na namatay, hahanapin po natin iyan.

Q: Sa hearing, sino po ang ipatatawag?

A: Probably from both sides ang tatawagin. I think ilalabas pa nila ang invitations so we’ll find out.

 I’m hoping na lahat ng taong involved, nandoon talaga para malaman natin kung ano talaga ang nangyari.

Q: Sir, iyong sa pag-surrender ng arms ng MILF?

A: Hindi lang arms at personal effects ang hinahanap ng taumbayan. Ako nga I would even go as far as to say na kailangang i-turnover ang mga taong involved dito

Q: Gaano po ito makakaapekto sa Bangsamoro Basic Law?

A: Malaking epekto ito talaga. I’m sure the bill might be modified, amended or changed dahil sa nangyari.

But hindi ibig sabihin noon, kailangang pigilin natin ang proseso. We need to still push for peace.

At the end of the day, ayaw na nating maulit ito ulit. Kung maghihiganti tayo, kung lulusubin natin ang lugar, it will just create a cycle of violence.

Kailangan ng ating mga kapatid na namatay ay hustisya, hindi paghihiganti.

Q: Gaano po kahalaga ang BBL para ma-attain ang kapayapaan, compared po sa sinasabi ni Mayor Estrada na all-out war?

A: Sa all-out war ni Mayor Erap, di hamak na mas maraming namatay. Hindi lang 44 iyong namatay doon, mas marami pang namatay. Iyon ang ayaw nating mangyari.

I think if we push for the peace measures, ang kalalabasan niyan is hindi na mauulit itong ganitong klase ng massacre o ganitong klaseng trahedya.

Hinahanap ng taumbayan ngayon ang hustisya. Hinahanap niya ang totoong impormasyon sa totoong nangyari. Naririto ang Senado para matulungang makamit iyon.

At the end of the day, huwag sana nating pakawalan ang kapayapaan dahil sa kagustuhan nating magkaroon ng vengeance.

Bam: BBL Should Be Pro-Poor, Pro-Business

Senator Bam Aquino calls on fellow lawmakers to focus on the provisions that will spur jobs and livelihood of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to ensure that the growth it expected to bring to the region will be inclusive to all Mindanaoans.

“The BBL’s economic provisions must be thoroughly scrutinized to make sure that all Mindanaoans will truly benefit from the growth that they’ve been waiting for a long time,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

If enacted into law, the BBL is expected to usher in lasting peace in Mindanao with the creation of a Bangsamoro entity, led by officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Aside from peace and order, Sen. Bam believes that the BBL will boost economic activity in the region, resulting in more jobs and livelihood for the poor people in the region.

“With the anticipated development in the region’s peace and order, local and foreign investors will see Mindanao as the next best business destination due to its untapped potential, hardowrking and innovative citizenry and vast natural resources,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam said the influx of investors will lead to fresh jobs and livelihoods in the region, giving Mindanaoans a chance to provide for the needs of their families and get out of poverty.

“The opportunity for every Filipino to earn for themselves and for their families must be realized through the BBL,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

In addition, Sen. Bam said the BBL will hasten agricultural development and modernization and address the looming power supply problem in the region.

Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier announced that it will prioritize the passage of the BBL, on top of other economic-related bills.

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