Eid'l Adha, a call for sacrifices, charity - Deles

MANILA–As the Muslim community celebrates the Eid al-Adha, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles said the remembrance of the feast serves as a call for sacrifice and charity not only for our Muslim brothers and sisters, but also for the rest of the Filipino nation,” adding that the Filipino people's continued collective efforts and sacrifices in the pursuit of peace is already bearing fruit. Meanwhile, Government of the Philippines peace panel chair Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said that the Muslim Filipino community and other inhabitants of Mindanao have made numerous sacrifices during the decades of conflict that plagued the region, but through the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the Bangsamoro region it seeks to establish, these sacrifices will hopefully be at an end. The Bangsamoro is expected to usher in much-needed social, political, and economic reforms in the region under a new autonomous government. Let us also be reminded that even in the midst of all our sacrifices, God Almighty remains with us,” Coronel-Ferrer said. And that our sacrifices will not remain unnoticed and unrewarded.” Last month, committees in both chambers of Congress began deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which is now known as Senate Bill 2408 and House Bill 4994. The Bangsamoro Bill is expected to be passed on the first quarter of 2015, after which a plebiscite will be held for its popular ratification. Congress is set to continue deliberations on the proposed law on October 20 when it resumes session, but even as it is currently adjourned, public consultations by the Special Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro, headed by Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, and the Senate Committee on Local Governments, headed by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will be conducted. The respective committees are heading to the proposed core territory of the Bangsamoro to conduct these public hearings. The road to peace will require more sacrifices from every one of us,” Deles said. But we call on you to be patient. We call on you to stay on this road with us so that, together, we may share and lighten each other's burdens in pursuing genuine and lasting peace for everyone.”