By Francis Wakefield
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said the ratification of the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law by the House of Representatives is a step closer to the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza (PCOO/MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, Dureza said the bill is now ready for the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte who will sign it anytime now.
"It's been a long and arduous road for all," Dureza said.
"When President Duterte approves and signs it into law, it will be a new beginning for all Bangsamoro and all citizens to work for a better and peaceful Mindanao & country. It will not be easy. But let's all stay the course," he added.
The BOL was supposed to be signed by President Duterte before his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) Monday but this was derailed when the Lower House failed to ratify it.
This after a change in leadership at the Lower House installed former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) as the new Speaker of the House.
The Senate on Monday ratified the Bicameral Conference Committee version of the Bangsamoro law, known as the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”
The Bangsamoro Organic Law is part of the political track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) – a peace deal that was signed between the government and the MILF in 2014.
The law will strengthen the current autonomy set-up for the Moros in Mindanao, giving them more control over their resources and political power over the new Bangsamoro region in Mindanao.