Bangsamoro Basic Law draft submitted to Palace

 News
Apr 142014
 
Malacañang has received the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a measure which will formalize the creation of the Bangsamoro political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“In behalf of the OP [Office of the President], Usec Michael Frederick Musngi received from MILF panel chair Mohaqber Iqbal relevant documents pertaining to a draft bill on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said in a text message sent to reporters on Monday night.

He did not, however, provide anymore details.

But on Monday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte expressed confidence that the bill will stand legal scrutiny.

The draft BBL, which was crafted by the 15-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission, was based on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed late March.

The Palace had said the Office of Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs will review the draft then submit it to Congress.

It added it aims to have the BBL ratified by the end of the year or the first quarter of 2015. 

Once approved by Congress, the BBL will be put through a plebiscite involving Mindanao provinces that want to be part of the Bangsamoro political entity. The Palace hopes to conduct the plebiscite by June 2016. —Kimberly Jane Tan/KG, GMA News

Gov’t, MILF start ‘last round’ of peace negotiations in Kuala Lumpur

 News
Jan 222014
 
Gov’t, MILF start ‘last round’ of peace negotiations in Kuala Lumpur

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) began on Wednesday what could be the final round of negotiations between the two panels should they agree on the last annex that would make up the comprehensive peace agreement aimed at bringing an end to the decades-long war in Central Mindanao. On the table of the 43rd exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the normalization annex, the last of the four annexes that would comprise the Final Peace Agreement between the government and the MILF. The normalization annex deals with the overall security in the new Bangsamoro that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), where the Moro rebels are expected to lay down their arms. The peace agreement with the MILF is one of the cornerstones of the Aquino administration, and the Moro rebels themselves have said they want a peace deal before President Benigno Aquino III completes his term in June 2016. “It is not farfetched that during this 5-day session, we will be able to settle all the remaining outstanding issues on the Bangsamoro Waters and Annex on Normalization that block our way to conclude the talks and eventually sign the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) very soon,” said MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal in his opening statement on Wednesday. But Iqbal remained cautious. He said that even if a comprehensive peace agreement was signed, it would be the “Exit Agreement that will formally terminate this negotiation.” “(It) Read More …