Bangsamoro Transition Commission pushes for Bangsamoro Basic Law

Members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) have appealed to the all “peace-loving Filipinos” to give Moros a chance to catch up with the progress and development now being enjoyed by those in Luzon and the Visayas.

BTC head Ghazali Jaafar made the remark as he presented the draft of the 2017 Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) during a meeting with the Consultative Committee (ConCom) that was tasked to review the 1987 Constitution on Tuesday.

The draft BBL establishes a new autonomous political entity that replaces the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“We appeal to you and all peace-loving Filipinos na bigyan ngayon (ng pagkakataon) ang mga Moro para naman kahit papaano, makahabol po in terms of progress and development in Luzon and Visayas,” Jaafar said during the presentation.

Raisa Jajurie, commissioner of the BTC, then delved into the details of the proposed BBL, which provides a ministerial form of government, a justice system centered on Sharia or Islamic law, as well as fiscal autonomy, among others.

On ratification of the BBL, the ARMM will then be deemed abolished and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will schedule the gradual phasing out of all ARMM offices, Jajurie explained.

“To foreclose any interregnum in the governance of the region, the BTC, an independent body created by EO (Executive Order) 08, shall continue to exist to wind up and caretake the administration of the region until the BTA is constituted,” she added.     /muf