Final Bangsamoro Basic Law submitted to Aquino

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - A final draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was finally submitted to President Benigno S. Aquino III after months of review, a senior government official said today.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said that the final draft of the BBL was handed over by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-led Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) to the president through the Office of the Executive Secretary on Wednesday night.

The BTC is the 15-man body that initially drafted the BBL. The draft BBL was signed by MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, who also heads the BTC.

"Further discussions may be held based on the guidance of the president," Deles said in a text message to reporters. She added that the important thing is "the process is on track."

Asked if she is confident that the latest version of the BBL would finally be approved and accepted, Deles said what she and the parties are confident is "a mutually acceptable bill will be filled in Congress as a true demonstration of the parties' firm partnership for peace."

The BBL is the organic law for the envisioned Bangsamoro government that will replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by 2016.

The passage of the BBL is part of the comprehensive agreement that the Philippine government and the MILF, the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, signed in March this year to end the decades armed conflict in Mindanao.