By Marjaleen Ramos
The United Nations commended on Friday the signing into the law of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/ MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesman said the enactment of the BOL was a “landmark achievement on the road to lasting peace in southern Philippines.
"The Secretary-General congratulates negotiators for the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Bicameral Conference Committee, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission and civil society groups for their efforts."
The BOL is the result of decades-long peace negotiations between the government and rebel groups in Mindanao, particularly the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The UN also pledged that it would support the implementation of the law that would grant greater autonomy to the Bangsamoro region in Mindanao.
The law will pave the way for creating a government for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, replacing the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in a bid for full independence.
Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Law on Thursday, hoping this would put an end to the conflict between armed groups in the south.