Cotabato City. January 26, 2018. - The Senate Committee on Local Government, Committee on Constitutional Amendments, and Revision of Codes, Ways and Means, Finance, and the Subcommittee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) conducted a joint 3rd Public Hearing on Bangsamoro Basic Law bills, the Senate Bill No. 1608 of Senator Koko Pimentel, and Senate Bill No. 1646 (BTC version) of Senator Migs Zubiri at SKCC, ORG Compund, Cotabato City on January 25, 2018.
The Senate delegation was led by Senator Migs Zubiri, Senator Sonny Angara, Senator Risa Hontiveros, JV Ejercito, and the Senate staff. Prior to the public hearing, the Senators paid courtesy visit to Camp Darapanan, and was welcome by the members of MILF Central Committee headed by MILF Chairman Al haj Murad Ibrahim.
The Senate delegation was accompanied by ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman and its ARMM officials, Maguindanao Governor Toto Mangudadatu, and its Provincial LGU officials, CSO's and security sectors.
The visit was so festive and greeted by thousands of Bangsamoro people from all walks of life who went out of the street not minding the heat, and hunger just to show their unconditional support to the passage of BTC crafted Bangsamoro Basic Law.
The public hearing was a success, and overwhelming considering that there were no opposition heard from the participants about the said measure. It was attended by the Commissioners of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission headed by its Chairman Ghazzali Jaafar.
BTC Commissioner Raissa Jajurie presented the salient points in the BBL
In a power point presentation entitled, " A Revisit of Moro History and the Search for Peace in Mindanao”,
BTC Commissioner Mohagher Iqbal presented the narratives of the Bangsamoro struggle, and BBL as a solution to end the century - old Bangsamoro problem.
Senator Zubiri in his closing statement said, " This is not for us. This is for our children, and children's children. Let’s stop the conflict. The " bangayan " (bickering)...We pray that whatever religion, and tribe, and people in Mindanao we treat each other with respect, and love... We in the Senate commit in the soonest possible time , the creation of the BBL.