Delay in submission of basic law worries MILF

Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF negotiator, and Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, head of the government negotiating panel, exchange copies of the peace agreement between the MILF and the Aquino administration they signed in Malacañang on March 27, 2014. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front may be seriously concerned with the delay of Malacañang’s submission of the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law to Congress, it said it was still not “impatient” and will not make an appeal to the Palace.

“We are not impatient…But if it will be so much delayed there will be no more time for Congress to handle it,” MILF Vice Chairman for Political Affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said on Tuesday.

Last week, he was quoted in news reports as saying he was worried over the delay of Malacañang to transmit the document to legislative branch.

Congress will adjourn on June 13, and will resume on July 28 when President Benigno Aquino III delivers his State of the Nation Address. The law is supposed to make the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao into Bangsamoro political entity.

“We are worried over the delay. We all know that the delay of the submission to Congress means there will be lesser chances for it to become a law,” Jaafar said.

Despite the setback, the MILF “will not make an appeal with Malacañang because they know how important this is.”

On Monday, Malacañang explained the delay, saying the draft was still being reviewed by the Office of the President.

The draft was submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to Malacañang last April 14.  The Comprehensive Bangsamoro Agreement was signed last March.

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