Duterte if BBL is not passed: Help me think of other ways

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shows a gesture of respect as he arrives in Malacañan Palace for the Ceremonial Signing of the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) on December 19, 2017. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

The President on Tuesday expressed a sense of fear in case Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is not passed.

During his speech in the ceremonial signing of the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), President Rodrigo Duterte asked for a 20-minute extension of his time to discuss the country’s security and bind to the Constitution.

“Pero, ‘pag hindi natin maibigay ‘yang [BBL] (In case we cannot grant BBL), kindly help me think of ways how to do it. Kasi (Because), I said, the other choice is, if they’d go to war, it opens the floodgate of Mindanao to everybody else” he said after bringing up the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He went on by adding, “It would do us well to really pursue talks with well-meaning *inaudible* functions of the Moro people in Mindanao. Kasi (Because) the other option is I do not even want to imagine how it would evolve itself before the public.”

“Pero kung magka-giyera-giyera talaga ‘to (But if war ensues), and they demand for something that is to correct also the historical injustice committed against them, ‘pag hindi natin ibinigay, mukhang malabo talaga at magkagulo (if we do not give it to them, it will get messy),” Duterte said.

Furthermore, the President said to observe all the ‘things presenting itself before the horizon of Philippine politics,’ emphasizing that the country is not ready to fight so many fronts at the same time.

The President listed the recently-declared terrorist group New People’s Army (NPA) and the Islamic State (ISIS) as more threats to face.

“That alone will eat a lot of our resources and keep us busy and thereby in the process, we’re losing lives, innocent lives,” he said.

Though he did not specify which part or parts, Duterte, who is also a lawyer, said that he has been reviewing the ‘constitutional barriers’ of the BBL.

“Si [Al Haj] Murad naman, in so many times, present and past, he would want to see me on a regular basis and talk about the progress of the BBL. I do not think that it will hurdle constitutional – binabasa ko paulit-ulit (I keep on reading repeatedly) the constitutional barriers,” he said referring to the MILF’s chairperson.

He has also praised the MILF and MNLF’s patience.

“Itong mga ‘to, matagal na naghihintay (These groups have been waiting for long) and they have been very patient. Ako, I salute Nur [Misuari] for just being there, keeping quiet. Tapos sinasabi niya kung ano ang sabi ni (Then he said whatever is said by) – ‘Mayor, how we proceed with the… Someday, if it does not start now.’ Medyo nagpapasensya na (He is being patient),” the President narrated.