Statement of Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri on the death of BTC Chairman Ghazali Jaafar

The Senate joins the family of BTC Chairman Ghazali Jaafar in hailing his life of courage, honor, and nobility. He dedicated his strength, intelligence, and soul to freeing the Bangsamoro people from the strife that history has bestowed on Mindanao.

The country owes much of the peace embracing Mindanao and the Muslim communities nationwide to Chairman Jaafar. He consistently extended his hand of conciliation and brotherhood to fellow Muslims--more so, to fellow Filipinos during the course of the Bangsamoro struggle. His efforts contributed greatly to achieving unity among factions of fellow Muslim brothers. He has earned the admiration and respect of allies and adversaries because he has always stood for his dream of bringing forth a Bangsamoro where Godliness, liberty, progress, and peace will reign forever.

We shall always remember him for giving us the privilege of working with him to craft the historical Bangsamoro Organic Law as one of the important pillars of a truly autonomous Bangsamoro.

On a personal note, I feel truly grateful that I had the chance to work alongside Chairman Jaafar, whose brilliance and passion will stay with me forever. We are a poorer nation for his passing, having lost not only an astute intellect but also a committed heart. But though his passing leaves an aching hollow, we will always remember him, as his life's work has interminably changed the course of Mindanao's history, and the nation at large.