DEPUTY Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman lauded the consolidation of the measures that aim to establish a Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Program that would address legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people during the war that lasted for decades.
Hataman also urged his colleagues to support the measure that is long overdue for enactment into law, as it remained pending in the House of Representatives since the 17th Congress.
“Commitment ng pamahalaan sa ilalim ng peace agreement ang magtalaga ng mekanismo na tutugon sa mga hinaing ng mamamayan sa Bangsamoro na naging biktima ng injustice, human rights violations at marginalization na nagresulta sa land dispossession,” Hataman, former governor of the now-defunct ARMM, said.
“We hope that this time around, this measure will become law and start the process of healing for many of our citizens in the Bangsamoro region,” Hataman said.
In a hearing last Wednesday, the House Special Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity consolidated House Bills Nos. 4330 and 2975 respectively filed by Hataman and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto, who is also the panel’s vice chair. A technical working group was also created to harmonize the provisions of the two measures.
During the hearing, Hataman explained that the bills aim to legislate an agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), through the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), to ” work out a program for transitional justice.”
“A large part of this bill accedes to the recommendations of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission convened in 2014 to study and review existing research and policy interviews with more than 210 Moro, Indigenous and settler communities in Mindanao and Sulu archipelago,” the Basilan lawmaker said.
“Simple lang naman ang sinasabi ng panukalang batas: hindi magkakaroon ng tunay na kapayapaan sa Bangsamoro kapag hindi maghihilom ang mga sugat ng digmaan at tutugunan ang mga epekto nito sa mamamayan. At para magkaroon ng paghilom, kailangang harapin ang nakaraan at bigyang hustisya ang mga pinagdaanan ng mga mamamayan ng Bangsamoro,” he said.
