IN April last year, I had the chance to travel to General Santos, Sarangani and South Cotobato. It was my first time there and I was quickly captivated by the charm and beauty of those places and their people.

During that time, I was traveling with a group that included a couple of French nationals. From what I can remember, there was supposed to be this waterfalls in Cotabato that was really a must-see. But the caveat was that there were security issues going there.

Such is the case for Mindanao not just for me, but to most Filipinos and even foreigners traveling who have heard of or are traveling to the country.

Mindanao has always been a place full of promise, rich in natural resources; an island that has many wonders, and, yet, continues to be embroiled in strife and uncertainty.

I was having a light early-evening conversation with a couple of BusinessMirror editors a couple of days ago and we were discussing news coverages. The first one said it would only be the Luzon area, while the other one said Visayas would still be fine. As for Mindanao, they both said, I could have it to myself.

The draft Bangsamoro Basic law (BBL), currently pending in Congress, is where the government pins its hope for lasting peace in the region and unlocking its economic potential. But is it really the solution to the whole problem that has been plaguing Mindanao?

I am no lawyer. I am also not an elected senator or congressman. I do not hold any government position, either. But the one thing certain is that I am a Filipino and I love and am mighty proud of our country.

And, for me, before we can even discuss the BBL, I want to repeat what I have mentioned here in my column after the Mamasapano incident.

I said then that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) should answer three basic questions answerable only by “yes” or “no”.

A “no” answer to any of the three questions means the government should forget about any peace talk with them.

Do they considers themselves as Filipino citizens?

Can they sing the Philippine national anthem in full and with all their hearts?

Do they consider their camps as part of Philippine territory?

In my one-centavo opinion, only after a “yes” answer to all three questions should the government and us as a country can talk peace with them.

But, just like what Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told me after he spoke during the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) luncheon meeting, the only alternative to the BBL is a better BBL.

And, for those looking at what then President Joseph Estrada did during his term, Marcos said an all-out war is not an option.

I could not agree more with Senator Marcos on that one. So many lives have been lost already. Blood has been shed in Mindanao for decades. Personally, I also hate guns and all that they represent.

I nodded my head again in approval when Senator Marcos also told me that the MILF does not represent the whole Mindanao, and any negotiation should include indigenous people, sultanate, and even the Moro National Liberation Front.

Marcos said it is a mistaken assumption that all Muslims are the same because there are different tribes in Mindanao.

I had a quick look at the draft BBL, and some parts of it look so encompassing, even as Marcos described the MILF as not having experienced a position of governance before.

Under the draft BBL, as I have read it, they will have exclusive powers on agriculture, livestock and food security; economic and cultural exchange; contract loans, credits and other forms of indebtedness with any government or private bank, and other lending institutions; trade, industry, investment, enterprises, and regulation of businesses, taking into consideration relevant laws.

It also has exclusive powers on labor, employment, and occupation; barter trade and counter trade with Asean countries; economic zones and industrial centers; tourism; creation of sources of revenue; and budgeting.

I just hope that Filipinos will start reading what is contained in the draft BBL and have our collective voices heard.

It is understood that we all want peace. But, as Marcos said, the BBL not only impacts Mindanao. Its effect can be felt in the entire country. It questions the sovereignty of the entire country.

And, for those thinking the BBL is the golden ticket for increased investments in Mindanao, well, think again.

According to Marcos, the BBL potentially can supplant any law without exception, including taxation, labor law, and the banking system.

He said there is a lack of clarity and the BBL could have a direction greatly disconnected with the Philippine government.

I applaud him when he stated that he is not paying attention to the threat of violence and war and that what is needed is objectivity, fairness, and service to the Filipino people. Marcos also said he will stand his ground against those who will run roughshod on the constitutional process.

My mother is Ilocano. Growing up, she always told me how good the administration of then-President Ferdinand Marcos was. How good he was as the president of the Philippines. Well, history can get a bit convoluted and, most of the time, different people have different perspectives on events.

But, from what I saw and what I heard from Marcos during the ECCP luncheon meeting, he got my respect.

The May 2016 general elections are fast approaching, and, based on some of the names that are potentially running for the presidency, maybe Marcos is the viable alternative to them.

He is very intriguing and I want to learn more about him and his body of work.

Source: Business Mirror