Aquino calls for patience for law concerning territory

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Benigno Aquino III sought today for understanding why it has been taking long to finally come up with a draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), concerning the Bangsamoro region's autonomous rights.

Aquino made the remarks in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), which he delivered during the joint session of Congress held at the House of Representatives on Monday.

"We are currently crafting the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. We are asking for understanding to our Congress regarding this," he said, stressing that it is important to study each provision that would be contained in the Bangsamoro bill.

"To the best of our ability, we will push for a proposed measure that is logical, just and acceptable to all," Aquino said.

He noted that if the Bangsamoro bill could be enacted within the year and the plebiscite in the envisioned Bangsamoro territory could be held, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) could be given one-and-a-half years to show the positive change in this area.

The BTA will be headed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front ( MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group that forged a peace deal with the Philippine government. The passage of the BBL and the creation of a Bangsamoro government are parts of the peace agreement.

The president said if the approval of the BBL would be delayed, the time for the BTA to rule the Bangsamoro government would also be shortened.

Both the government and the MILF want to hold the first election for the Bangsamoro government in May 2016, simultaneous with the national and local polls.