Public sees peace process as solution to Mindanao problem -– Palace

MANILA (PNA) -– Malacanang on Sunday said the public still believes in the peace process and to the principle that peace would bring lasting solution to the troubled parts of Mindanao.Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda admitted that the Mamasapano incident has affected the ongoing peace process but we need to look at the peace process in and of itself.””So we continue to believe that the general population believes in the peace process and they so adhere to the importance of peace and to the principle that peace would bring a solution,” he said.Lacierda said the Palace foresees a healthy discussion on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before Congress.”It should be discussed by the stakeholders and if ever they have amendments and discussions, they can bring it to Congress,” he said.Lacierda said the formation of a council and of the National Peace Summit as announced by President Benigno Aquino III last Friday would be helpful for the public to understand more about the proposed BBL.”We are confident that as more stakeholders are involved, and as more people are informed about the peace process in general and the Bangsamoro Basic Law specifically, we will be able to continue to muster the general sentiment,” Lacierda said.”And we believe that the sentiment of the people is towards peace. It’s just that we need to look at the peace process from the prism of all the stakeholders involved, not necessarily in just one incident—the Mamasapano—it is really,” he added.The proposed BBL will now undergo more scrutiny in the House of Representatives and the Senate.The Senate is set to resume its BBL hearings on April 13 to discuss particularly the ceasefire mechanisms to prevent repetition of the Mamasapano incident in the future.Due to lack of coordination during an anti-terrorist operation, a total of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers have been killed in an encounter with combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) last January 25.The firefight has lasted for almost 11 hours, resulting also in the death of 17 MILF fighters and three civilians. (PNA)LAM /JFM