Ex-AFP chief Biazon: Is ASG sending a message amid BBL hearings?

Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief and incumbent Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon on Tuesday called for a deeper investigation on the clash that occurred between the military and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Talipao, Sulu on Friday.

 

In a weekly press forum at the House of Representatives, Biazon said he suspects that the incident was related to the ongoing hearings that the House Ad Hoc Committee is conducting for the passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) contained in House Bill 4994.

 

“Is this the normal working of the ASG? Is there a message being sent by any group to the conduct of our hearing?,” Biazon said. The congressman is also a member of the House Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL.

 

Biazon said that the timing of the incident was suspicious as the Ad Hoc Committee was conducting a hearing in the nearby province of Zamboanga at the moment.

 

“Is there a message being sent to us? Because it occurred right in the middle of our hearing in Zamboanga,” Biazon said.

 

The lawmaker also raised suspicion that another rebel group may have helped the ASG during the firefight with the military.

 

“Base sa record ng AFP may 300 nalang ang bilang ng Abu Sayyaf Group sa buong Mindanao. E base sa mga report na lumabas, mahigit 200 yung (Abu Sayyaf members na) sumalakay...So, sigurado ba na ito ay ASG lang o may kasama nang MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) diyan?,” Biazon said.

 

On Friday afternoon last week, around 300 members of the ASG reportedly attacked a military platoon conducting reconnaissance operation in Talipao town to locate the whereabouts of the bandit group and its hostages.

 

Five soldiers were killed from the incident while 26 others were injured also on the side of the military.

 

On the other hand, the military claimed that nine ASG members were killed from the incident including the bandit group’s sub-leader Hairullah Asbang.

 

Biazon, however, said that despite the incident, the Ad Hoc Committee will continue holding hearings and consultations in the provinces in Mindanao, which will be part of the Bangsamoro Political Entity upon the passage of the BBL.

 

“The crafting of the BBL is difficult because we need to reconcile conflicting views. We need to reconcile conflicting interests, that’s why we have to continue to conduct extensive consultations,” Biazon said.

 

“And I am sure that after its passage, there will be people who will question the provisions of the BBL with the Supreme Court, that’s why we have to ensure that all its provisions are in accordance with the Constitution,” he added.

 

The BBL will serve as a legal basis for the creation of the Bangsamoro Political Entity which is set to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). —NB, GMA News