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 draft of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law has been presented to President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday night.
“The submission had beaten the workflow timeline set by the government and MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) officials during their meeting in Davao City last August 15 that a revised draft of the BBL would be submitted to the President on August 20,” the official website of the MILF, Luwaran, said in a report.
Malacañang on Thursday confirmed that the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was already submitted to Aquino.
“Draft BBL submitted,” Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte told media.
The document, signed by Bangsamoro Transition Commission chair Mohagher Iqbal, was received by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr at around 8 p.m. Also present were Atty. Alfredo Benjamin Caguiao, Aquino’s chief legal counsel, and Atty. Mike Musngi, assistant executive secretary.
“We are respectfully submitting the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) … and we are ready to adhere to our understanding to work on the final text of the proposed BBL after its review by the President,” said in the Iqbal in the cover letter of the document addressed to Ochoa.
“As per agreement of the parties, after the review of the President, they will meet again to finally put in place the final text of the BBL which the President would certify as urgent bill to Congress,” the report said.
The report quoted a reliable source as saying that Aquino would start his review of the BBL on Thursday, the same day of 31st death anniversary of his father, the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.
The draft would be presented to Aquino before submission to Congress by the end of August. With a report from Kristine Sabillo
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