The BBL exposed

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

IF there is one silver lining that can be found in the massacre of our 44 SAF commandos, it’s the revelation where the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will lead us to if passed. Then if there is one person I had not expected to stand up and warn the Filipino nation of an impending major crisis for the country at the risk of being shunned by his political allies, it is Senate Majority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

I’ve had the privilege of working with Mr. Cayetano closely over the years and I would never have thought he would do what he did – to stand in the way of the Aquino government’s flagship project. He has stated in no unmistakable words that he will campaign actively against the passage of the BBL being negotiated by the MILF, that he initially co-authored!

Mr. Cayetano cited what he had observed and determined after closely studying the provisions of the proposed law and the conduct of the affairs of MILF over the years, capped recently by the massacre of the 44 PNP-SAF commandos in Maguindanao.

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MILF’S TRUE AGENDA. He maintains he is squarely still behind the crafting of a BBL, providing autonomy that is grounded on a democratic process, backed by a sustainable development plan, but said it can only be possible without the MILF, a terrorist group, leading it.

He pledged to fight the BBL in its present form because if passed it will open the door to a bloody process prompted by a secessionist move anew by a mightily armed MILF, backed by BIFF and (possibly by ISIS) for the final push to establish an Islamic state in Mindanao.

Mr. Cayetano said he is determined that MILF’s ultimate agenda is power and control of all of Mindanao and that it’s time we see through MILF’s strategy, foisting the threat of endless war in Mindanao if the BBL it crafted is not passed! He fears that the millions of public funds that the BBL will provide MILF will only serve to expand and fully arm its combatants disguised as a legitimate police force in order to grab other areas including Palawan, etc.

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POSITION OF STRENGTH. Then, he found it ironic that it is the MILF that appears to be negotiating from the position of strength, not our government. Why? he asked.

He believes MILF can be stopped without heading to a total war in Mindanao or in the country if the BBL is stopped in its tracks. The group can be isolated and reduced to what it was 20 years ago, he said, if only the government musters enough political will, for the right reason and motivation.

In his consultation with various tribes in Mindanao, he said there appears a silent but majority resistance and fear of a MILF government implementing the BBL.

Let’s pray for him in this fight for what he believes is right for all peace-loving Filipinos.

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FACES OF VALOR . As I pondered Mr. Cayetano’s surprise move, I did my own research on the realities that our soldiers and SAF troopers face each day they are out on a mission, what they are up against, and the deadly risks to their lives and their families.

I came across three videos that gave me the faces of valor, dedication and death in the eyes of our brave warriors. Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mp2ShrsipQ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeGxNmnZNvI,

and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfkEvg1qELI. I must warn you that these show graphic scenes of violence in the battlefields.

The first one is a video taken on discovering the waylaid bodies of the Fallen 44. The second shows Ilocano-speaking wounded and dead soldiers in another unknown encounter. The third video is a grab from GMA7’s report of an encounter of the army with BIFF.

Clearly, our soldiers need a lot more support from our people and our government. Clearly, our soldiers battle cry is “Walang atrasan” ready to die for a mission. If these don’t move you to understand the plight and welfare of our soldiers, I don’t know what will.

From hereon, future stories and reports of our soldiers dying from their wounds will have faces in my mind, and will no longer merely represent some numbers that make for statistics.

I will have nothing but sheer admiration for the brave men and women I will meet on the streets, they who are sent out to fight and exterminate the people’s enemies at the risk of losing their own lives.

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THE DRUG WAR IN ASINGAN. The all-out campaign of the Espino administration contra illegal drugs took off with a bang after that productive meeting of the provincial peace and order council.

Nabbing the notorious drug dealer in Asingan town should send a strong message that the Espino administration is finally on the warpath and has the drug syndicates on its sight.

This development, hopefully, will be sustained by the Asingan police station with the support of the provincial police office, under the leadership of P/Sr. Supt.. Biay

I recall former Judge Ulysses Butuyan, an Asingan resident, lamenting over the years how drug and criminal syndicates had practically taken control of several barangays in the town no different from how the MILF has claimed territorial controls in Mindanao for years.

Hopefully, the Asingan community of professionals can band together soon and actively join the political and police leadership in the campaign.

One drug major dealer down, how many more to go? Keep a scorecard to keep the momentum! Can Asingan show how it is to win the war against illegal drugs?

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