EDITORIAL – The BBL and the next President

Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has impressed a Catholic Bishop who was surprised to find him not looking every inch like a combatant. After that, he delivered a coup d’ grace when he told a gathering of interfaith leaders in Cagayande Oro on Wednesday that the MILF will not disengage from the peace process no matter what will happen to that Bangsamoro Basic Law.
According to the MILF leader, they will pursue the passage of the BBL beyond the term of President Benigno Aquino if it is not passed by the present Congress. He made the assurance that the MILF will continue to engage the Philippine government peacefully.
This, even if Congress thumbs down the proposed BBL.
Iqbal has revealed that the MILF is facing three scenarios in Congress after the January 25 Mamasapano tragedy. The first scenario would be for the Philippine Congress to pass the BBL as it is without cuts and revisions. He calls it the good BBL. The second scenario is for Congress to pass the BBL with so much cuts and revisions. He calls it a disaster to MILF. The third and last scenario, is that Congress will not pass the BBL at all. He likes this one than the second. The third scenario gives the MILF another chance to pursue the BBL under the next administration.
Of the three, the third scenario is where the role of the next President will be crucial. Given that the fate of the BBL is likely doomed, it also follows that the next presidential elections will be crucial as to how candidates will woo the Mindanao votes and deal with the MILF.
There’s the possibility of aspirants to Malacanang dealing with the MILF involving the BBL’s future. The stand on the BBL should play a very critical role in the making and unmaking of the next President.