The Philippine government has taken one step forward in its longstanding peace process with Muslim rebels.
The Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), a bill that will create a new autonomous Muslim region in Mindanao, is set to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte today after it was ratified by the House of Representatives yesterday.
The BOL’s ratification was prioritized by the newly seated House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who rose to the position on Monday following the sudden ousting of her predecessor Pantaleon Alvarez.
The BOL proposes the creation of a new autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao, the southernmost of the Philippines’ three major islands where a majority of the country’s Muslim population reside.
Duterte, who identifies as part-Moro (Muslim) and is the first president from Mindanao, has prioritized the BOL’s enactment ever since his campaign for the presidency.
The law is one of the requirements found in the 2014 peace agreement, called the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, between the government and the largest Muslim rebel group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
While talking to reporters yesterday, MILF Chairman Al-haj Murad Ebrahim expressed his delight over Congress’ action.
“We really thank the new leadership of the House. We want to extend our appreciation. We are hoping that this is key to moving forward, that there are no more hindrances after this,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.
Under the BOL, a new autonomous region to be called the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region will be created, which will comprise of municipalities in Lanao del Norte, barangays in North Cotabato, Cotabato City, and Isabela City.
The region will also include provinces already part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) like Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi
According to ABS-CBN News, as an autonomous region, it will receive 75 percent of the taxes that will be collected, an increase from the 70 percent the ARMM currently receives.
No one opposed yesterday’s ratification.
Proponents of the bill believe that this will help in creating lasting peace in Mindanao, which is often the center of conflict involving Filipino Muslims.
