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MANILA, Philippines — Fulfilling his promise of a higher budget for Mindanao, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he will sign the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law.
During his third State of the Nation Address, the president asked for two days to sign the landmark measure, which the House of Representatives failed to ratify before adjourning its session Monday morning.
"When the approved version is transmitted and received by my own office, the law has been passed actually, and I intend to give me 48 hours to sign it and ratify the law," Duterte said in his speech.
The passage of the BOL, originally called the Bangsamoro Basic Law, would make available funds which have always been allotted to "Imperial Manila," as he said Mindanaons refer to the capital.
The president lamented how national projects in Metro Manila have been funded, "leaving a pittance to Mindanao."
"Mindanao was dubbed as the land of promise and Mindanaoans say in the region that is so because what it got from the government through the years of promises, promises and more promises," he said.
Duterte made a commitment to the Filipino Muslim community that they will see the "promise of Mindanao" before his term ends.
"Despite all that has been said, or against the Bangsamoro Organic Law by all sectoral groups, I make this solemn commitment that this administration will never deny our Muslim brothers and sisters the basic legal tools to chart their own destiny within the constitutional framework of our country," the president said.
While the Senate ratified the proposed BOL, the House of Representatives failed to do so as it abruptly ended its session amid a looming change in leadership.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the failure of the House to ratify the bill was a "temporary setback."
"We, however, remain confident that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will sign the Bangsamoro Organic Law as soon as both houses of Congress finally ratify the bill," Roque said.
Mujiv Hataman, regional governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said he is confident there will be no interruption of reforms and government services during a transition to a proposed Bangsamoro region that will replace the ARMM.
He added regional officials will meet on a potential transition that will happen if the Bangsamoro Basic Law is passed.
"I want them to know that I started from a problematic regional government. Ayaw ko maranasan nila (Bangsamoro Transition Authority) ) ang naranasan ko noong nag-transition ako," Hataman, who was caretaker governor from 2011 to 2013, said. He was elected regional governor in 2013 and again in 2016.
ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman urges the local government of Sulu, represented by Gov. Abdusakur Tan II, to keep pushing for peace after the latter expressed opposition to the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
"It is such a shame that it is a Moro who seeks to spoil this process all over again. We cannot allow the personal interests or anyone—especially not a Moro—to again sow discord where we so clearly need peace. We cannot allow the short-sightedness that is the politics of patronage to again wreck the progress we have made on the road to a lasting peace," Hataman says in a statement.
"This is not the time to put a roadblock up against the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Not after all the struggle and time invested in years of working to make a fully-functional and truly autonomous Bangsamoro region a reality. We need peace, and we will have that peace even if there are those who would break it to gain political leverage."
The Supreme Court has asked Malacañang and Congress to respond to the petition of the Sulu provincial government to nullify the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
The SC discussed the petition filed by Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan II during its session on Oct. 16, according to an insider, The STAR reports.
Duterte says he signed into law the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which he hopes "will finally end the decades of conflict that is rooted in the Bangsamoro fight to find identity."
President Duterte hands over the Bangsamoro Organic Law to MILF Chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim here in Malacañang.
WATCH: Pres. Duterte hands over the Bangsamoro Organic Law to MILF chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim here in Malacañang @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/F5L2NtXqzl
— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) August 6, 2018
— Alexis Romero
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza welcomes the "very positive and timely statements of support" by the United Nations and European Union on the passage of the Bangsamoro law.
"The EU and the UN have been with us in our long and at times challenging moments through their consistent support. During bad times, they kept the faith and stayed with us, and never walked away from the 'table.'"
He also notes the positive comments of the Japanese government and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the Philippines.
"The Japanese Government on the other hand has been a faithful partner in the advancement of peace in Mindanao with its continuous support to the peace process and reconstruction and development of the region."
Statement of Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza on messages of international organizations welcoming milestones for peace. pic.twitter.com/bULzqDa8y8
— OPAPP (@peacegovph) July 29, 2018
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