There is a need for serious study by the government on the Bangsamoro Basic Law, says Philippine Senator Bongbong Marcos
Ranked 5th among the viable candidates for the Philippine presidential elaction in 2016, Philippine Senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos,Jr visited Sydney last Friday 22 May as guest speaker during the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Ilocano Association of Australia (IAA), an engagement added to his official one-day visit in Melbourne talking with Australian officials about PublicPrivate Partnership or PPL initiatives.
Pupularly called by his Filipino style term of endearment, Bongbong still attracts the attention of many, particularly among the Ilocanos or Filipino constituents of Northern Luzon in the Philippines, the one time political bailiwick of his dad and 20-year chief executive of the Philippines the late Mr. Ferdinand Marcos.
After addressing the association, the principal preoccupation of the evening at the $100 per plate anniversary ball at the Sheraton at the Park in Sydney, was a lengthy photo shooting with the guest of honour hopping from table to table to accommodate requests by guests.
Bongbong Marcos said it was the fifth year that the IAA association had been inviting him. Ever since, there was simply no slot in his busy schedule as senator.
In his address to the IAA, Bongbong Marcos said there had been lack of serious study by the Philippine government on the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law in the Philippines which underpins the proposed establishment of an autonomous government to be supported by the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front of MILF.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, Mr Marcos said had been busy and practically living on his travelling luggage holding hearings after hearings in Mindanao, about the BBL issue.
Like most Philippine legislators, Mr Marcos attached great significance to the proposed agreement between the rebels and the Philippine government, to be promoted by the Bangsamoro Basic Law to usher in lasting peace and development in Mindanao in the Philippines.
Bongbong has completed more than twenty years active service in Philippine government, starting as a congressman, then vice governor and later governor for three terms of the province of Ilocos Norte, and finally as Senator running on his second term.
He ranked fifth as possible “presidentiable” for the election in May 2016 in an Asia-Pulse survey, behind Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, Secretary Mar Roxas and Senator Francis Escudero.
Bongbong Marcos founded the Confederation of Ilocano Association Inc. in the Philippines.
The Ilocano Association of Australia or IAA is headed by Dr.Elsa Collado, twice president of the peak organisation PCC-NSW and a veteran community leader. IAA was established on 5 August 1990 and is one of the largest regional groups in Australia.
IAA has produced outstanding community leaders who later became leaders of the state umbrella body PCC-NSW and the national peak body Filipino Communities Council of Australia or FILCCA.
Honoured with respective awards during the 25th anniversary were Mrs Malyn Chun (Education), Dr Raul Dacanay Amor (Medicine), Atty Catherine Roc Andres (Law & Community Service), Ric de Vera (Community Service), Lilia Mackinon (Community Service), Dr Corazon Francisco (Medicine), Evelyn Opilas (Journalism), Manny Villon (Real Estate and Industry), Dr Mars Cavestany (Theatre) and Jimmy Lopez (Community Service).
Also acknowledged were IAA presidents since its founding, namely Malyn Chun, Catherine Andres, Mellie Banan, Alex del Prado, and Elsa Collado.and Emily Rudd.