MANILA, Jan. 31, 2015—A Filipino prelate has stated there is no point in speeding up the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) following the Mamasapano massacre, but points out the need for those in power to investigate the incident and ensure justice for the victims and their bereaved.
Manila Auxilliary Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo (Photo: CBCPNews)
In a recent interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas, Manila Auxilliary Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo explained the priority now should be running after and taking into account suspected terrorists responsible for the carnage that killed 44 members of the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Special Action Force (SAF) at Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Sunday, Jan. 25.
The bishop, who also chairs the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)’s Permanent Committee on Public Affairs (PCPA), underscored the supreme importance of conducting an in-depth investigation as to what really took place in order for justice to be served immediately, given existing peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), some members of which allegedly perpetrated the “massacre.”
Pabillo believes the findings of a body probing what has been dubbed the Mamasapano “misencounter” can help in coming out with a more comprehensive peace deal and may provide inputs for the BBL. (Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCP News)
