Sen. JV Ejercito: Hearings show there is consensus for peace in Mindanao

SENATOR JV Ejercito yesterday lauded the emerging "consensus for peace" and expressed confidence that there is bipartisan support in the Senate that would allow it to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Ejercito made the statement after the conclusion of a series of public hearings in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga City.

The Senate has started public hearings on the BBL since December 2017.

"The public hearings allowed us to listen to the voices of our Muslim sisters and brothers. Their inputs would certainly help us as we put together the final touches of the bill," he said.

The BBL was drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and was turned over to President Duterte on July 2017.

A month later, it was immediately transmitted to the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Both Houses are now tasked to come up with a law for the emergence of the Bangsamoro political entity.

Ejercito said that he was elated to see that despite some differences, "everyone seems to be working towards the path to genuine and lasting peace."

He added: "Probably five decades of fighting made everyone realize that armed conflict will not solve the problems of Mindanao."

He said that his visit to Muslim Mindanao gave him mixed emotions.

"I was at awe at the beauty of Mindanao, its prospects for tourism and growth. But conflict has deprived our people of the peace and development they deserve," Ejercito said, pointing out that the BBL is "the first step to harness the full potential of Mindanao's economic development".