Aquino wants fast-track work on Bangsamoro law

Rappler.com

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

The President tells the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to finish its work because the government has to complete the transition in time for the 2016 presidential elections

MEETINGS. The Bangsamoro Transition Commission has been meeting with top officials to give them updates on their work. File photo by Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III urged the transition commission tasked to craft the Bangsamoro Basic Law to speed up their work to give lawmakers sufficient time to study it.

The President met with members of Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) on Thursday, January 29, in Malacañang, where the commission gave updates on their work, according to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles.

The BTC, composed of 15 members from both sides, was created in December 2012 to craft the Bangsamoro law based on the agreements signed by the government and MILF panels in Kuala Lumpur. The final annex on normalization was signed on January 25, signaling a successful end to the first phase of the process.

The government and the MILF are working under time pressure, because they want the Bangsamoro region to be set up before Aquino steps down from office in 2016.

April deadline

MILF panel chairman Mohager Iqbal, who is also chairman of the BTC, earlier said the commission has set an April deadline to complete its work, which will be certified as urgent by the President once it is submitted to Congress. 

Once Congress passes the basic law, it will be subjected to a plebiscite. Should the law be approved, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will be deemed abolished. An interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority will take over until the election of officials in 2016, simutaneous with the presidential elections. 

The President told the BTC that the government has to “complete the transition tasks in time for the 2016 elections,” Deles said in a statement issued Friday, January 31.

“To ensure the broadest possible support for the passage of the law, the President stressed the need for the BTC to be transparent in its work and to reach out to the different sectors, including those initially resistant to the new political entity,” added Deles.

The BTC members have been conducting consultations with various stakeholders. Other commissioners include Maulana Alonto, Abdula Camlian, Raissa Jajurie, Said Shiek, Ibrahim Ali, Melanio Ulama, Hussein Munoz, Akmad Sakkam, Asani Tammang, Pedrito Eisma, Froilyn Mendoza, Johaira Wahab, Talib Benito, and Fatmawati Salappudin. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!