Aquino submits draft Bangsamoro bill to Congress

MANILA, Philippines - After months of delay, President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday morning turned over to Congress leaders the much-awaited final draft of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

In a ceremony in Malacañang, Aquino personally endorsed the draft BBL bill to Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

The draft BBL was scheduled to be submitted to Congress last May, but it was delayed due to some differences from the government peace panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"Mahaba at mabusisi po ang prosesong ito dahil nga inilatag natin ang bawat detalye ng pagpapatupad ng ating adhikain para sa Bangsamoro," Aquino said in his speech.

"Tinitiyak ko po sa inyo: Pinanday ang Bangsamoro Basic Law upang maging makatwiran, makatarungan, at katanggap-tanggap sa lahat, Moro man, Lumad, o Kristiyano," he added.

Aquino and MILF Chair Al Haj Murad met last week to clarify and resolve the issues in the draft BBL, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

The BBL embodies the comprehensive peace agreement signed last March by the MILF and the government peace panel to end the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao.

The bill intends to create a new Bangsamoro political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). It will stipulate the power-sharing and wealth-sharing arrangements between the national government and the new political entity.

In a statement, government peace panel Chair Miriam Colonel-Ferrer said the proposed BBL provides that the Bangsamoro government shall be parliamentary in form.

"This institutional design would allow for a broader base of political representation and participation in governance. It would compel the formation of competitive and sustainable political parties in the region," the professor said.

Ferrer said the Bangsamoro government will enjoy significant powers over and above the powers granted to the ARMM today.

The Bangsamoro will also have fiscal autonomy through fiscal and other revenue-generating powers and an automatically appropriated annual block grant similar to the internal revenue allotment received by other local governments. 

It would also be provided with additional funding support to hasten socio-economic development in the region.

In his speech, Aquino expressed confidence that the draft BBL is in accordance with the 1987 Constitution and that it is faithful to the comprehensive Bangsamoro peace agreement.

With the draft bill now in the hands of lawmakers, Aquino called for the immediate passage of the BBL.

"Sa atin naman pong Kongreso: nauunawaan namin na kailangan ninyong suriin nang mabuti ang panukalang batas na ito. Ang hiling lang namin, maipasa po sana ito sa lalong madaling panahon. Sa ganitong paraan po, mabibigyan natin ng sapat na oras ang ating mga kapatid na makapaghanda, at tuluyang mapalago ang ipinunla nating pagbabago sa pamamahala sa Bangsamoro," Aquino said.

Once the BBL is signed into law by Aquino, a plebiscite will be conducted in the envisioned core territory of the Bangsamoro to ratify the new government that will replace the ARMM by 2016.

"Ang panawagan ko po sa ating mga kapatid na boboto: Pag-aralan ninyo sana nang mabuti ang mga nailatag na probisyon. Ang inyong pag-unawa at pakikilahok ang magiging pananggalang ninyo sa mga nagpapakalat ng agam-agam sa ating agenda ng pangmatagalang kapayapaan," Aquino said.