Palace fully supports BBL amid Maguindanao mis-encounter

At least 43 commandos were killed in a “misencounter” between militants and government forces in Maguindanao on Sunday, January 25 (screenshot from Reuters footage)

MANILA  — Malacanang has expressed its continued support for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) despite Sunday’s mis-encounter between the country’s police force and armed groups in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

In a Palace press briefing on Monday, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma said the government is fully determined to complete the peace process in Mindanao.

“Ang pananaw ng pamahalaan ay hindi nagbabago. Mahalaga ang peace process sa Mindanao, mahalaga ang pagpasa ng Bangsamoro Basic Law at patuloy pa ring itinataguyod ang prosesong pangkapayaan (The government’s point of view will not change. Mindanao is an important part of the peace process, it is important that we pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law and to continue to uphold the peace process),” he said.

Coloma made the statement after Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the temporary suspension of all hearings related to the passage of the BBL at the Senate while investigation on the Maguindanao mis-encounter is ongoing.

“Ginagalang natin ang proseso ng mga mambabatas at sinabi ko na rin na mauunawaan namin ang kanilang pasya dahil nga sa pinakahuling kaganapan pero patuloy pa rin ang pagtataguyod natin ng prosesong pangkapayapaan dahil mahalaga ang pagpapasa ng Bangsamoro Basic Law (We respect the process of the lawmakers and I already said that we will understand their decision because of the recent events, but we will continue to uphold the peace process because passing the BBL is important),” he said.

As of 4 p.m. Monday, 43 bodies were recovered following the bloody encounter between the police’s Special Action Force (SAF) and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Eleven other SAF members were recovered and wounded.