BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguinanao -The Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front on Tuesday signed a unified declaration” calling for the approval the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as an embodiment of each other’s separate peace pacts with Malacañang.The two-page declaration was signed in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao by the figurehead of the MILF, Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, and former Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema, chairman of the largest of three factions in the MNLF.The crafting of the declaration, where both groups warned of rejection of a diluted BBL,” was

COTABATO CITY -- Mindanao will never develop unless peace prevails in the region.Presidential hopeful Sen.

Manila – While there is a growing serious concern from stakeholders in the Bangsamoro peace process over the delay in the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the government is committed to continue its relentless efforts to secure its enactment into law as soon as possible, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles said yesterday.Deles stressed the government and other stakeholders in the Bangsamoro peace process cannot afford to go back to square one” and remain firm in its goal to see the BBL passed into law within the term of President Ben

COTABATO CITY - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has assured the country's Catholic religious leaders itwill not resort to armed struggled anewif the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is not acted by Congress within President Aquino's term.The assurance was issued by MILF chief negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal.Iqbal spoke on the progress of the Mindanao peace processbefore leaders ofCatholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Comission on Interreligious Dialogue,
National Ulama Conference of the Philippines, Philippine Council of Evangelical

MANILA -- House leaders on Friday admitted that quorum become the biggest obstacle why they fail to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) this month.Ad Hoc committee on BBL chairman and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said he is always ready to answer all queries of his collegues to enlighten them on the House version of BBL but due to lack of quorum, attendance is being questioned. It is not surprising.

MANILA (PNA) -- Despite the new Dec. 12 deadline for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, Malacanang remains optimistic that a new Bangsamoro political entity will be established under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.”Under the new timeline, if it (BBL) will be enacted into law in December, will still have enough time for the President to appoint members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and for the holding of plebiscite,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

Statement of the

Institute for Autonomy and Governance
(IAG)

COTABATO CITY -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Tuesday acknowledged there is almost zero” possibility now for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to get through the legislative mills of the two chambers of Congress before yearend. But we are not losing hope.

MANILA (PNA) – President Benigno Aquino III said on Tuesday he would continue to lobby with members of Congress for the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) under his watch.”We will continue to lobby with members of Congress to pass the law during our watch and pass it at the earliest possible time so that the new mode of governance will have the maximum time to show the effectivity or the efficacy of this new mode of governance,” the President said in an interview with Inquirer multi-media.Despite some difficulties hampering the early passage of the BBL, President Aquino said

MANILA – Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday he is open to the idea of holding special sessions to assure that the plenary debates on his substitute bill for Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be finished before the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) next month.Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, said it is up to the discretion of Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to call special sessions.Under the Constitution, Article VI, Section 15, the President may call a special session any time.