“Too much ado over nothing”

SOME quarters noted that Malacañang exercised strong “political will” in quickly passing the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the House committee level. Unfortunately, how the events played out unfairly undermined it instead.

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MORE WORRIED—Truth to tell, I am now more worried on what will happen to the BBL from hereon. What worries me is the ensuing public perception, rightly or wrongly, that Malacañang “rammed through” the BBL approval by using its political clout by way of a “buy out” by Malacañang of Congress vote using public funds. This is unfortunate because in the process, the inherent merits of the BBL are lost or drowned out. And instead of being ideally considered a collective voice of a bi-partisan Congress that the BBL rightly deserves, it will be undeservedly labelled a Liberal Party ploy or an “LP railroad.”

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WRONG TIMING—The timing is also unfortunate for such landmark piece of a legislation. With the approaching national elections, the nation is now in the throes of a political season and politics have reared its ugly head and again the intrinsic merit or value of the BBL is lost in the political polarization. In the process, some worrying questions arise like: What if a non-LP administration takes over in Malacañang in 2016 when the BBL implementation goes high gear? What if the opposition and those opposed to BBL will come into power in Congress in 2016? What if the next president is anti BBL or is not as supportive as President Aquino?

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SOMERSAULT—What caused these negative public perceptions were extant. For example, House committee chair Cong. Rufus Rodriguez prematurely and boastfully announced the passage of certain “non-negotiable” revisions of the BBL. He swore to high heavens that certain “consensus” amendments had to be made otherwise the House would not approve it. There were even imprudent statements from some that if the Mamasapano suspects or the missing SAF gears were not surrendered by the MILF, there would be no BBL. When the votes came, those heightened public expectations turned out to be all “dud.” It was a somersault! I wished my friend Cong. Rufus early on just kept his mouth shut and kept his preliminary thoughts to himself.

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“BUY OUT?”—Congressmen being called to Malacañang before the vote fueled the speculation of a “buy out.” Unfortunately for the BBL, true or not, the PDAF and DAP ghosts came back from the grave to haunt it.

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SHOWDOWN—After the House final approval, a vote will still take place in the Senate committee of Sen. Bongbong Marcos and a final plenary vote of the whole Senate. The noise now coming from some senators are worrisome. I predict both the House and Senate versions will be world’s apart. Another “bloody” showdown between the two chambers will surely take place. And BBL will again mercilessly be torn apart.

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MY FEAR—But my greatest fear is that a successful but delayed juggernaut at this late stage will not be good for the MILF on a long term. Even an entrenched BBL but with a short transition period for the MILF to prove itself and disprove the suspicious and the doubters will be fatal. I worry that MILF candidates, still neophytes in the political power game, will stand no chinaman’s chance of surviving in the coming 2016 elections against the politically savvy, wily and entrenched non-MILF politicians who are just waiting in the wings, salivating to hijack the BBL. An outgoing and lame-duck president cannot be relied upon and of much help.

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CREDIT IS DUE—But I give credit to the MILF leadership for its statesmanship in clearly declaring early on that whatever happens, it will continue its journey for peace. I also give full credit to President Aquino for his strong, unflinching “political will” in seeing this through. “Railroad” or not, the nation needs a BBL as our last ditch to a peaceful transition.

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TOO MUCH ADO?—So please don’t wonder if, in spite of the recent House committee vote, I still have reasons to be worried about the BBL now. Maybe I worry too much. Or just maybe, I am giving—to use a famous Shakespearian line—“too much ado over nothing.” I do wish all these worries ain’t so!