COTABATO CITY—The peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) congratulated the members of the Senate for overwhelmingly passing on the third and final reading of the Senate Bill (SB) 2214.
The measure, seeking to extend Bangsamoro transition period for another three (3) years and resetting the first regular parliament election in BARMM, was approved on Monday, Sept. 6, with votes 15-YES, 3-NO, and 1-ABSTAIN.
“We thank each and every Senator who voted in favor of the extension cognizant of its direct implication to the strategic goals of the peace process between the National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” MPC said in a media statement.
The MPC expressed its thanks to Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Franklin rilon, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Francis “Tol” Tolentino, Cynthia Villar, Vicente Sotto III, and Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri for their “statesmanship, solidarity to our Muslim brethren and commitment to peace.”
“The resounding vote favoring the extension only demonstrates that the cause for peace is a common ground and a unifying force that transcends political partisanship. Thank you for listening to our people. Thank you for giving peace and moral governance a chance to succeed,” MPC noted.
The group also thanked and commended Senator Francis Tolentino, Chairman of the Committee on Local Government, including his team for “opening the door for civil society organizations, indigenous peoples, women, academe and peace networks.”
Accordingly, MPC remains hopeful and confident that the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Q. Velasco and Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, will reciprocate the effort of the Senate by fast-tracking the passage of House Bill No. 10121.
There are only 23 days left before the filing of the candidacy for the May 2022 elections, thus, the advocacy group further “knock on the heart” of President Duterte to certify the extension bill as urgent.
“Mr. President, please issue the certification of urgency now. Let this be your lasting legacy for peace in Mindanao,” MPC reiterated.
Earlier this year, the MPC and Civil Society Organizations Movement for Moral Governance(CSO-MMG), launched an online petition urging President Duterte to certify as urgent bills yo extend the transition period in BARMM. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
