Peace rally participants in Pagadian City call for the approval of Bangsamoro Basic Law

The peace rally, which was held at this city’s Plaza Luz

By Hirohito D. Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, May 5 (PNA) – More than 4,000 people have gathered here Sunday in a peace rally calling Congress to ratify the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The peace rally, which was held at this city’s Plaza Luz in front of City Hall, started around 9 a.m. and ended around 2:30 p.m.

Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) Steering Committee Chairman Ferrer Marcaban said 19 speakers took turns in explaining the importance and benefits once the proposed BBL is approved.

The speakers are representatives of tri-people--Moros, Christians and Lumads--from the region and from different Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

Councilor Bienvenido Culve, who represented the city government and the city mayor, said they support the peace process to achieve a lasting peace here in Mindanao.

Culve said they also support the call of the rally participants the reason why they allowed the holding of the peace rally.

The peace rally was participated by contingents coming from towns of Buug, Malangas and Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay; Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte; Pikong, Lanao del Sur; and, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte aside from those who are from the 26 municipalities and one city of this province.

The peace rally dubbed as “People’s popular ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL)” was spearheaded by Mindanao Alliance for Peace (MAP) and the CBCS.

Marcaban said the main purposed of the peace rally is to inform the Government of the Philippines (GPh), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Philippine Congress, all peace-loving people here and abroad that “we the Bangsamoro Communities, Muslim and Non-Muslims alike are supporting the proposed BBL and that we are appealing to Congress to pass it in the earliest possible time.”

MAP Chairman Abdulmanan Gayak explained the holding of the peace rally here does not mean that “we wanted Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur to be included in the proposed Bangsamoro Region.”

They commended and expressed gratitude to the city government for granting them the permit and even provided sound system for the holding of the peace rally.

Meanwhile, Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Sofrionio Ecaldre said the rally ended peacefully citing there were no untoward incidents during the activity.

Ecaldre has commended the organizers for complying with the conditions stated in the permit issued them by city government. (PNA)
FPV/TPGJR/HDC/JSD

All Photos by JONG CADION