Duterte confident on passage of BBL

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Christine Villas at Brgy. Maria Cristina in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte on February 28, 2018, reiterates his stance on shifting to a federal form of government citing that this will allow the different regions of the country to prosper. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday expressed high hopes that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be passed stressing the urgent need to attain lasting peace in Mindanao.

“Yang BBL na ‘yan, titingnan namin, lulusot yan (That BBL, we will see, it will be passed),” Duterte said during the inauguration of the Bahay PAG-ASA at Phase II, Barangay Mipaga, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

The President has again dismissed speculations that his efforts to push for BBL and federalism have something to do with term extension.

Duterte reiterated that if the BBL and federalism would be passed, he would step down before his term ends in 2022.

“Matanda na po ako, wala akong ambisyon na ganu’n. Gusto ko nang makapagpahinga (I’m old, I don’t have that ambition. I want to rest),” Duterte said.

“Talagang sabi ko, pagkatapos niyan, if it’s earlier than 2020, ‘pag merong federalism at bagong presidente which would call for an election I will step down by 2020. Hindi ko na hintayin ang 2022 (I said, if it’s earlier than 2020, and there’s federalism and a new president that would call for an election, I will step down by 2020),” he added.

Duterte also took a swipe at local terrorist groups linked to the Islamic State (IS) group for encouraging Maranaos to join them.

He made this remark after the United States tagged ISIS Philippines and the Maute Group as “Specially Designated Global Terrorists” (SDGTs).

“Galit ako sa mga taong taga labas at pumunta dito para udyukin ang mga Moro na lumaban sa gobyerno at makipag-away at ang dala-dala nila hindi naman relihiyon (I am mad at outsiders who come here and encourage Moros to fight against the government when they’re not here to bring religion),” Duterte said.

Duterte claimed that terrorist groups were only using religion as an excuse to kill people and cause destruction.

“Ginagamit lang nila ang relihiyon…pumupunta dito at maghanap naman ng away. Walang alam ‘yan kundi magpatay ng tao at magsira(They’re only using religion. They come here to look for a fight. They don’t know anything else but to kill and destroy),” Duterte said.

“Di naman sinusunod sa anong tinuturo ng Islam. Alam naman nila masamang pumatay ng tao, pumatay ng bata. Demokrasya tayo, dapat magkaisa (They know it’s wrong to kill people, kill children. We’re a democracy, we should unite),” he added

The President, meanwhile, renewed his commitment to make Marawi “great” again.