MILF’s Jaafar hopeful on passage of BBL this year

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 3): MILF’s Jaafar hopeful on passage of BBL this year

The leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) remains hopeful on the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before the end of the year following the commitment of President Rodrigo Duterte of its approval.

This was expressed by Ghazali Jaafar, chair of the MILF-led Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) .

“The President committed to us the passage of the BBL before the end of this year. God willing,” Jaafar said in a text message when asked about the agenda of the meeting with President Duterte in Davao.

Jaafar said the MILF discussed with the President the future of the BBL in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.

During the meeting, Jaafar said the MILF is keen on Senate version.

“In the Senate, BBL is much better than in the House,” Jaafar said without elaborating.

He added that the MILF requested for the meeting with the President to update him on the MILF’s position and concern about the situation of the BBL in the House.

In February, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri filed Senate Bill 1717 with a hope for a lasting peace in Mindanao and the whole country. Zubiri said, Senate Bill, No. 1717, under Committee Report No. 255, was a product of 11 public hearings and six technical working group meetings.

Zubiri said the new BBL gives the greatest latitude if not full autonomy to the Bangsamoro government that will be established, to assert their political and economic self-determination and pursue development programs for their people according to their peculiar historical, cultural, religious and national identities.

Zubiri was eyeing the submission of the approved bicameral version of the BBL before Duterte’s state-of-the-nation address in July.

On the other hand, the House considers the BBL as a “top priority legislation”.

The House is consolidating four bills seeking to provide for the BBL and the abolition of the ARMM.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1030514