Finally, a peace agreement between the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front could be at hand by late February or early March, a Malaysian news site reported Monday.
An "exclusive" report on Malaysia's The Star Online cited a source with "direct knowledge" of the matter as saying everything is "ready and waiting" to be signed.
"Everything is ready and waiting to be signed either
later this month or in March," it quoted its source as saying.Malaysia
Last Jan. 25, the government and MILF peace panels signed an
annex that would pave the way for the peace agreement.
Both sides in October 2012 signed a framework agreement in Manila
In its report, The Star Online said Malaysia
“The next step will be to complete the drafting of a Basic
Law (Constitution) for the autonomous region,” The Star Online quoted its
source as saying.
Bangsamoro Basic Law consultations
Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) is
taking steps to fast-track consultations on the basic law for the upcoming
Bangsamoro political entity in Mindanao , so it
can submit a draft law to Congress by March 31.
BTC chairman and Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief
negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the commission will form a special committee to
process the feedback from recent consultations.
An article posted Monday on the MILF news site said Iqbal
told the Mindanao Civil Society Organizations Leaders Peace Summit last week
the BTC will "organize a special committee that will process the feedbacks
and recommendations of the consultations for consideration by the 15-member Commission
during the drafting of the bill.
The MILF said it and the government continue to hold
consultations via their respective peace panels. Joining them are the
Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) and other groups helping
in the peace process.
Earlier, Iqbal had said they are targeting April as the
deadline to submit the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law to Congress, but adjusted the
deadline to March 31 following a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III
last Jan. 30.
The MILF also said oted that despite the earlier deadline,
Congress may not be able to act on the proposed BBL immediately.
"Whether or not the BTC submits on March 31 or April,
Congress will still be on recess by then. It has sessions from January 20 to
March 14 and will take a break from March 15 to May 4, resume on May 5 and will
go on sine die adjournment from June 14 to July 27. The President will deliver
his State of the Nation Address on July 28," it said.
The BTC is working with the Mindanao Civil Society
Organization Platform for Peace (MCSOPP) to hold public consultations.
Under the MOA, "at least 128 consultations will be
conducted at the district level in the proposed core areas of the Bangsamoro
and in every municipality included in the target expanded areas, with the
consultation design approved by both the BTC and the MCSOPP."
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