Gov't hopes Congress passes Bangsamoro basic law quickly

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government expects the Congress would quickly pass a basic law for a proposed Bansamoro political entity, as the final annex for a comprehensive peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has been signed, a senior government official said today.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the next step is to craft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and submit it to Congress.

"We hope the measure can be tackled in the present session of Congress so it can be passed soonest, and a plebiscite can be held, " Coloma said on government-run dzRB radio program on Sunday.

Coloma said the government is confident both houses of Congress will act on the Bangsamoro basic law soonest.

The issue has a "sense of urgency," since the aim is to not only hold a plebiscite but to elect new officials of the Bangsamoro political entity by 2016.

The Bangsamoro entity is intended to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed yesterday the normalization annex, or the final of four documents that make up a comprehensive peace agreement.