Philippine soldiers take their positions during a clearing operation after they overran a camp of Muslim insurgents in the village of Ganta on Mindanao island earlier this year (AFP Photo/Mark Navales)
An influential Jesuit priest has urged members of the academic community to throw their support behind the peace process in Mindanao, as the House of Representatives Tuesday begins debating the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
The law would install a new Bangsamoro autonomous political entity in the region, and is viewed as an important step towards bringing an end to four decades of war in the southern Philippines.
Fr Joel Tabora SJ, president of the Ateneo de Davao University, said in a statement that strong awareness among all stakeholders would significantly aid in pushing the proposed law through Congress.
"The national will to peace should guide Congress in legislating the law," said Tabora.
He said that the Philippine Jesuits’ Ateneo University system will encourage and provide opportunities for open and meaningful discussion on the bill.
Tabora has been among the most vocal supporters of the Bangsamoro peace pact, which was forged by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
"The draft law is a courageous step towards peace in Mindanao," he said.
The priest said that the attainment of peace in Mindanao would provide an invaluable blueprint for peace among divergent cultures and religions, in light of massive ongoing fighting involving the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
"As diversity in religions and cultures explode elsewhere in violence and death, may we succeed through Bangsamoro in securing peace," he said.
Social media has been abuzz with statements of support since President Benigno Aquino submitted the proposed law to Congress last week.
The World Bank, on its website, said the transmittal of the law to Congress "is a crucial step in the road map to achieving peace and development in Mindanao”.
The Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue congratulated the Philippine government and the MILF "for reaching another major milestone in the Mindanao peace process”.