Bangsamoro Basic Law draft delayed anew

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The submission of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was again delayed on Monday.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. earlier said the draft bill, approved by the peace panels of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), was scheduled to be handed over to President Benigno Aquino III on Monday.

However, Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, on Monday said that it still needs to be polished and will be submitted to Aquino within the week.

Asked what was causing the delay, Coloma said all issues have been discussed and clarified and that the only thing left to do was to prepare the actual document to be submitted.

He said the President was ready to receive the draft bill and study it so it may immediately be filed before Congress.

“At tinitiyak naman ng liderato ng Senado at ng Camara de Representantes ‘yung kanilang buong pagsuporta para sa agarang pagpapasa ng draft Bangsamoro Basic Law,” he said.

(The leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives already assured their full support for the immediate passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law.)

Coloma said the public should not be worried since the contentious issues have already been resolved.

Deles, in a text message to Coloma, said they are targeting submission to Congress by the end of August.

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