Civil societies commend Pres. Aquino's National Peace Summit

Manila -- The announcement of President Benigno S. Aquino III on the creation of a National Peace Summit that will deliberate on and discuss the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was met favorably by members of civil society. A more inclusive dialogue on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law will further strengthen the peace process and provide our fellow citizens more avenue to discuss and comprehend the Bangsamoro peace process,” said Augusto Gus N. Miclat, Jr., executive director of the non-government organization Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) and initiator of the peace coalition All-out Peace Now!. Aquino, on the anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), called on independent conveners to gather other responsible and respected leaders to… dissect the proposed law in a calm and reasonable manner that will not incite anger and hopelessness.” The President added that the peace summit was tasked to write a report which would be made public in order to advance a reasonable decision” with regard the proposed BBL. Among those named by Aquino include Roman Catholic Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., Ayala Cororation Chief Executive Officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See andamp Malta Howard Q. Dee, and youth leader Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman. Meanwhile, Generation Peace Youth Network (GenPeace) in a statement shared by Beverly Orozco said that GenPeace supports the national summit. We want the entire country to talk about the BBL. We want people to understand its provisions. The peace summit should lead to greater study of the Bangsamoro bill. Miclat explained that the peace summit would assist both houses of Congress in their deliberations on the proposed BBL. Congress must act in the soonest time possible so that a just and lasting peace would be finally instituted in Mindanao. This will also give the next administration in 2016 a head start in prompting socio-economic developments in the region.” Both Senate Committee on Local Government Chairman Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos and Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL Chairman Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez committed to work on the proposed basic law amidst senate and congress recess.