The Standard - 2016 February 2 - Tuesday

Page 1

VOL. XXIX NO. 355 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 TUESday : FEBRUaRy 2, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Palace: No debating between Noy, JPE

A2

milf: bbl killEd by hoUsE bossEs By maricel V. Cruz

THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front blamed House leaders Monday for their failure to pass the Palace-backed Bangsamoro Basic Law and said the lack of time was merely an excuse. “Why did the leadership in the House allow the enemies of BBL to filibuster its passage?” the MILF said in a statement posted on its website, one day after the administra-

tion gave up on the law’s passage. Without naming Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. or Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez who headed the ad hoc committee on the BBL, the MILF said “the man who was supposed to be the defender of the BBL in the… House was the one causing so much confusion, short of… open defiance.” The MILF also acknowledged the impact of public outrage over the killing of 44 Special Action Forces troopers in Mamasapano in January 2015, but said it should not have been branded a massacre, since the commandos were in combat, “ready to kill and be killed.” The group also blamed sacked SAF com-

mander Getulio Napeñas Jr. for violating the ceasefire between the rebels and the government, when he failed to coordinate the troop movement with the MILF. “Nobody wanted the incident to happen, especially the MILF, but it happened. This is the reason the MILF, without distinction, expressed deep sympathy and condolence to all those who have fallen in Mamasapano on that fateful day of January 2015,” the MILF said. “There are countless exceptions, but generally Filipinos are not ready for reconciliation. Congress had just shown it.” The MILF made clear it did not blame President Benigno Aquino III, who

pushed for the passage of the BBL. It also praised the efforts of Muslim lawmakers, particularly Deputy Speaker Pangalian Balindong, and Reps. Tupay Loong, and Bai Sandra Sema. Opposition lawmakers, on the other hand, said the administration had nobody else to blame but itself for the failure to pass a meaningful peace agreement with the Muslim rebels. “The failure to pass a meaningful basic law was killed by President Aquino when he allowed the installment… emasculation by his allies of the original basic law submitted by the drafting commission,” said Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate. Next page

Disappointed. Members of the group 1Bangsa and other Moro chieftains express dismay over Congress’ failure to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law during a media forum in Quezon City on Monday. Jansen RomeRo

Judge issues warrant for Trillanes’ arrest By Joel e. Zurbano A MAKATI City judge issued an arrest warrant Monday against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in connection with the libel complaint filed by suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. last year. Judge Dina Teves of the Regional

Trial Court Branch 142 issued the warrant after finding probable cause in the libel case. Trillanes may post P10,000 bail for the libel case, a clerk of court said. The senator’s lawyer, Renaldo Robles, said they have not yet received an official copy of the warrant. “Unfortunately, Senator Trillanes is

on official trip abroad attending an international forum. The moment he arrives, he will voluntarily submit himself to the jurisdiction of the honorable court, if so required,” Robles said. In a separate text message, Trillanes affirmed his readiness to continue his personal crusade to expose what Next page

Unknown bet for president quits race

A4


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.