Bangsamoro basic law draft to be presented to Aquino on Monday

MANILA, Philippines – After months of delay and the peace talks allegedly being on the verge of collapse, the government announced that the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will finally be presented to President Benigno Aquino III on Monday (August 18).

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

“Nakatakdang isumite kay Pangulong Aquino ang draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) na pinagkasunduan ng Philippine at MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) panels bukas,” Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said over dzRB on Sunday.

(The Bangsamoro Basic Law draft agreed upon by the Philippine and the MILF panels is set to be submitted to President Aquino tomorrow.)

He said that despite the delay, it was proof that the President prioritizes the BBL’s passage to keep in line with the roadmap and timetable of the peace agreement between the two parties. He said the culmination of the peace process will result in stability and progress for the Bangsamoro region.

Coloma explained that the passage of the BBL into law will pave the way for the Bangsamoro Transition Assembly (BTA) and a plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Political Entity coinciding with the 2016 elections.

“Sa 2016 elections, dapat ay makapaghalal na ng mga unang set ng opisyal para sa Bangsamoro Political Entity,” he said.

(During the 2016 elections the first set officials of the Bangsamoro Political Entity should already be elected.)

Before that, the BTA will oversee the preparations for a year.

Asked if its passage can be clinched by the end of the year or the first quarter of 2015, Coloma said Malacañang trusts Congress and its leaders to fulfill their promise.

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