People listen to speakers calling for Congress to pass and approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law during a peace rally in Marawi City on Sunday. PHOTO BY MOH I. SAADUDDIN
People listen to speakers calling for Congress to pass and approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law during a peace rally in Marawi City on Sunday. PHOTO BY MOH I. SAADUDDIN

MARAWI CITY: More than 20,000 people marched on Sunday here calling Congress to “pass and approve” the crafted Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that the lawmakers will receive on Monday (May 5) after review from the Office of the President.

The marchers displayed banners with messages  saying “pity and love our children, please pass and approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” and “give way” to BBL.

“Bigyan daan ang kapayapaan, kaunlaran ng Bangsamoro [give way for peace and development in Bangsamoro],” said Ahmad of Rorog village of Marawi City.

The peace rally was attended by local leaders led by Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong Jr. and Marawi City Mayor Fahad “Pre” Salic alongside members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), “top 90” of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), groups of Ulama (Muslim clerics) and groups of women, business and youth sectors.

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At the event, the marchers also signed a petition that will be handed over to Congress in support to the proposed Bangsamoro government.

In his speech, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong Jr. called on all Bangsamoro to use “all resources,” even the Internet, to spread the “message of peace” to all concerned individuals and groups to gain more support.

“We should not go back to where we came from,” said Adiong, referring to the long decade conflicts in Mindanao that has sacrificed more lives and caused the region undeveloped.

Lanao del Sur and Marawi City belong to core areas of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that will be replaced by the proposed Bangsamoro government sometime in 2015.

The same call was expressed by pioneering members of the MNLF and officials of the MILF led by Commander Abdullah “Bravo” Macapaar, who attended the same event in Balo-i town of Lanao del Norte before going to Marawi City.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission submitted a partial draft of the BBL on April 14 and after six days, the complete version was submitted to the Office of the President. After review, President Aquino Benigno 3rd would issue urgent bill to Congress for another review and approval.