BTC approves BBL draft

MANILA, Philippines - The Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) has approved the final draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Irene Santiago, chairperson of the government panel implementing the Bangsamoro accords, said the commission approved the draft on Tuesday.

Santiago said the draft would be sent to the Office of the President at the latest by June 14 so it can be submitted to Congress on June 24 or 25. 

“We are hoping... the President will mention it in his State of the Nation Address and say that it is a priority bill,” Santiago said. 

She said the new measure is a “better version,” considering that commission members were “very pleased” with it.

The BBL, which seeks to create a new Bangsamoro political entity with enhanced autonomy, will implement the final peace agreement the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed in 2014. 

The BTC is composed of representatives from the government, MILF, indigenous peoples, local governments and sectoral groups.

Santiago said a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front led by former Sulu governor Yusoph Jakiri provided inputs to the draft. A separate group led by Peace Process Undersecretary Nabil Tan will deal with the MNLF faction led by Nur Misuari.