Saving the BBLCitizens rally for all-out peaceText by KRIS LANOT LACABAPhotos by JOSER DUMBRIQUE and KRIS LANOT LACABATHE MAMASAPANO INCIDENTwas a n<strong>at</strong>ional tragedy, the pain andconfusion of which reawakened incertain sectors age-old biases againstcommunities in southern Philippines.The Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL),a proposed measure to establish ajust and lasting peace in war-wearyMuslim Mindanao became an easytarget. Some lawmakers viciously<strong>at</strong>tacked the BBL as benefiting abloodthirsty terrorist group th<strong>at</strong> is outto dismember the Philippine republic.And there were those who havedisingenuously declared their desirefor peace while calling for all-out war.Many have seen through the smokeand mirrors and decided it is time tospeak up for genuine peace for thepeople of Mindanao. They are on radioand television, and speak in forumsto explain the BBL and counter thehalf-truths being peddled to the publicby the media and the legisl<strong>at</strong>ure. Andthey are out in the streets and parks,to march, to rally, to plead, to pray forthe continu<strong>at</strong>ion of the peace process,the preserv<strong>at</strong>ion of the ceasefiremechanisms, and the passage of theBBL.They are civil society members,women’s groups, nuns, priests, police,students, academics, legal experts, andordinary concerned Filipino citizens –Christians and Muslims alike – who seeth<strong>at</strong> the promise of peace in MuslimMindanao, once so close one couldalmost touch it, must urgently befulfilled through the BBL.One of the first demonstr<strong>at</strong>ionswas a march to Mendiola by morethan a hundred members of womenand youth groups and civil societyorganiz<strong>at</strong>ions. And on March 6, whichwas declared by peace advoc<strong>at</strong>es asa “N<strong>at</strong>ional Day Towards Healing forUnity and Peace”, interfaith prayerrallies, marches, musical concerts,peace vigils were held in Baguio, MetroManila, Bacolod, and Dumaguete.Peace advoc<strong>at</strong>es also g<strong>at</strong>hered invarious places in Mindanao, includingTawi-Tawi, Davao, and Mamasapano,to rally and pray for peace.The groups called on the public tounderstand th<strong>at</strong> all-out war will onlymean a continu<strong>at</strong>ion of the viciouscycle of h<strong>at</strong>red and violence. Thepassage of the draft law, they said,will help break th<strong>at</strong> and establish avirtuous cycle of peace, security, andsocio-economic development forpeople badly in need of it.As the peace advoc<strong>at</strong>es declare, “Warsolves nothing. Let us pursue theMindanao peace process.”10 KABABAIHAN<strong>at</strong>KAPAYAPAAN March 2015
March 2015KABABAIHAN<strong>at</strong>KAPAYAPAAN11
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