Gov't eyes to pass Bangsamoro Basic Law before year-end: official

COTABATO, Philippines (Xinhua) - The administration of President Benigno Aquino promised to "make a way" for the passage of controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law for the creation of a Muslim substate in the troublesome southern Philippines by the end of the year, senior official said here today.

Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas made the pronouncement here during the inauguration of the office of Bangsamoro Transition Committee (BTC), which is tasked to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law, saying Aquino along with his political coalitions, are determined to end the decades-long conflict in the southern part of the country.

"The leadership of President Aquino is determined and closely monitoring the events, particularly on the issue of Bangsamoro Law passage. If it's necessary, we will undergo debate for 24 hours but we will not delay it as a legislative tactic for saying no," Roxas stressed.

"We are not going to allow that to happen. We will look for ways," he added.

The peace panels of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) completed their Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro by signing its last annexes last month in Malaysia.

The BTC expects to hand to President Aquino a draft of the Basic Law, the charter of the future Bangsamoro substate, by May. Then, Aquino will endorse it to the Congress for enactment as an urgent piece of legislation.