Ramadhan, season of peace, grace — Deles

Statement of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles. Photo courtesy of OPAPP.

MANILA — As Ramadhan starts, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles said that this Holy Month of Ramadhan is “important not only for Muslims, but for all Filipinos.”‎

“Certainly, this is a season of grace where people take it upon themselves to sacrifice and cleanse, to think of others’ suffering, and to strive to live on this earth pleasing Almighty God,” Deles said. “‎Let us respect the season and altogether ask that the grace of Ramadhan may also be the grace to all of us.” ‎‎

The peace adviser noted that this year’s observance of Ramadhan coincides with the beginning of the last two years of the Aquino administration. ‎

“So we have to push as hard as we can and everything we can,” she said, referring to the goal of the administration to entrench the Bangsamoro by 2016. ‎

In a speech delivered recently in Hiroshima, Japan for the 6th Consolidation for Peace for Mindanao (COP6), Deles said that the roadmap towards the establishment of the Bangsamoro is on track.

“In July, when Congress reopens, the President will submit the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law for priority enactment.

In turn, our legislators, through the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate, have committed to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the year ends, bringing about much needed political and socioeconomic reforms under a new regional government,” ‎she said.

“This will be followed by a plebiscite early next year in the areas under the scope of the law, ensuing a brief transition period until regional elections are held in May 2016.” Deles added, during her speech before a gathering of multi-stakeholders‎ that look into and accompany the peace processes in Mindanao, Aceh and Southern Thailand.

Deles joined President Benigno S. Aquino III, who delivered the keynote message, in the COP6 event.

The peace adviser shared that the Office of the President, in close coordination with the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, is currently hard at work in finalizing the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

“The Bangsamoro Basic Law is an administration bill by President Aquino. Every provision in the proposed bill is going through due diligence as the President will stand up for it,” Deles said. ‎

“As we have struggled to overcome every obstacle in the past, let us carry on and never falter, no matter what problems and challenges lie ahead,” ‎the peace adviser enthused.

Meanwhile, in a press interview, President Aquino assured that “we will be exerting all efforts to ensure that this measure (BBL) is passed in a timely manner because the dream still is to give the new Bangsamoro government time to demonstrate its abilities and the time that they need as a minimum is a year and six months.”