I am inclined to support Senator Bongbong Marcos’ stand not to rush the passage of the BBL. We should dissect its provisions word for word letter for letter including colons and comas. Filipinos living away from Zamboanga, Sulu, Cotabato, etc. should not think that this don’t affect you because you live far away. NO. This would affect all of us, including our children, their children’s children. The contents must be published and disseminated to all of us before the house and the senate even vote. We want to live in peaceful co-existence with all our neighbors, far and wide. But we must make sure that the BBL would really lead to lasting peace. Remember, trustworthiness of the parties entering into an agreement is the key ingredient to the success of BBL. If there is one tiny doubt, then you have to make sure that you have solid steel contract to lean on. The BBL must have solid steel provisions.
How does the government assure us that the billions of pesos that would be under the powers of our brothers in the south would be used to uplift the lives of our ordinary countrymen by providing better education, basic utilities, health care, infrastructure na walang kupit, to start real and true progress in their provinces?
How about those peace-loving citizens who found themselves living in the same community but didn’t want to be under the BBL rule? What are they going to do? Transfer residence? How are their rights protected?
This could also set a precedent. The Muslims are not also solid. They have factions. What if they get into fights among themselves on how they’re going to run their government and manage the billions of funds? Paano yan, they will make their presence felt so that they will have their own version of BBL. Nagka-watak watak na tayo.
We Filipinos are one lot. Whether you are Tagalog, Ilokano, Muslim, Jesus is Lord, Protestant, Catolico, isa lang tayo. We should only have one government. They already have their own public officials and representatives in government, ang problema ay hindi sa sistema, nasa pamamalakad nila.
Let’s all pray and wish “PEACE to our ONE country”.
