Ebrahim: More sacrifices needed

• Sep 2, 2017
• ibnu Usman
• HITS: 2899

MILF Chairman Alhaj Murad Ebrahim appealed to the Bangsamoro to sacrifice more to achieve their aspirations because the latter “will not be served on silver platters.”

In his Eid’l Adha message broadcast over a radio program in Cotabato City on the eve of the Feast of Sacrifice and read before congregational prayers in the early morning of September 1, Ebrahim said that peoples and processes that pose challenges would have to be overcome, apparently referring to the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) which he said is “already being undermined by some legislators.”

While the BBL was transmitted officially to the Senate and House of Representatives on August 14 by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO), there is no sponsor yet of the draft law.

In a surprise move, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed last August 3 House Bill No. 6121 or "An Act Providing for the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and Abolishing the Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao, Repealing for the Purpose Republic Act No. 9054, and Republic Act 6734, and For Other Purposes." 

Because it is almost an exact copy of the so-called Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR), the MILF decried the Arroyo bill as “foolish”. BLBAR was vigorously opposed by the MILF during the last Congress.

Ebrahim said that “the pressing challenge of today is how to convince the Congress of the Philippines that only a BBL compliant with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) can commence the bigger task of normalizing our communities, address our legitimate grievances, correct the historical injustices, and establish the government that is acceptable and in line with our distinct way of life.”

Ebrahim also cited the present “tribulations” of the Bangsamoro which he blamed to violent extremists in our midst, such as the still unfinished war in Marawi City and the MILF skirmishes with ISIS-inspired groups in Maguindanao.  

The MILF chairman urged the Bangsamoro to include in their prayers the immediate end of the armed fighting in Marawi City which was on its 102th day as of the Eid’l Adha. ###

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