Pacquiao backs BBL, but says, ‘Don’t include Saranggani in Bangsamoro region’

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Pinoy boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is known to be a staunch supporter of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), but it seems that he does not want his province to be part of the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Pacquiao’s office released a statement wherein he said, “I recognize the need to pass a law that will govern the area to ensure lasting peace and order which are the keys to economic prosperity and development in the region and throughout Mindanao.”

But then Pacquiao added, “There is no need to include Saranggani in the proposed Bangsamoro region because there is already relative peace and order in the province.”

He went on to say, “The inclusion of Sarangani and other parts of Mindanao may cause instability and further complicate our search for lasting peace in the region.”