Aquino admits difficulties with MILF

MANILA, Philippines–President Aquino acknowledged the difficulties both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are facing in trying to complete the peace process that would eventually pave the way for a new autonomous region in Mindanao.

But the President said he remained “optimistic” despite the delay in the submission of the draft bill of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) for congressional scrutiny and approval.

Malacañang is scheduled to receive Monday the revised draft bill, which the President intends to certify as urgent to expedite its approval in both chambers of Congress.

“When we got into this, we never said that just because we asked for it, it would happen,” Aquino said in a TV5 interview. “We really have to be patient and I am optimistic,” he said in Filipino.

Malacañang earlier missed its May 5 deadline to submit the draft BBL to Congress, more than two weeks after it received it from the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

It turned out the Palace had returned the draft with major revisions. Both panels then sat down in a series of workshops to reconcile their differences over the language of the draft.

Despite the delay in the drafting of the BBL, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma on Sunday said the President remained “determined to complete the peace process which would bring lasting stability and development to the Bangsamoro.”