Wednesday’s ceremonies in Malacañang brought the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) one step closer to finally reaching a conclusion to the peace talks and a solution to decades-old conflict in the South. There, witnessed by some 200 guests and with officials from both peace panels, President Aquino turned over to Congress leaders the 122-page draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The document on which the proposed legislation was based – the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro – was signed earlier this year, also in Malacañang.

It is now up to the two houses of Congress – the House of Representatives and the Senate – to conduct hearings and deliberate on the contents of the proposed legislation. Once enacted, the Bangsamoro bill  will entrench a new autonomous political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

 

We’ve scoured online sources to gather reactions to this milestone. Care to comment? On Facebook and Twitter, use the hashtag #BBLWatch to follow and join IAG's thread on the BBL.

 

Read full text of President Aquino’s speech at the turnover ceremony of the draft BBL here: Filipino | English translation

 

On GPH and MILF finally agreeing on a mutual BBL draft

 

“Of course, in all negotiation you cannot get all what you want. Neither the other side can get what it wants. It is a compromise. The fact that we have the Bangsamoro Basic Law, personally and politically, as far as the MILF is concerned, we are happy.” -- Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator and Bangsamoro Transition Commission chairman READ SOURCE 

 

On the BBL in Congress

 

“This is the farthest distance we have reached in our peace journey with the MILF, and the most significant political step we have taken in our political roadmap for the Bangsamoro.” -- Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles READ SOURCE 

 

“We trust that our esteemed lawmakers, cognizant of the historic import of this process, would view the submitted draft with open hearts and minds, and would take on the monumental responsibility of bringing forth the Bangsamoro with seriousness of purpose and urgency.” -- Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer‎, GPH peace panel chair in talks with the MILF READ SOURCE 

 

“Let us provide democratic space so that all voices would be heard during the public hearings, including those from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the BIFF, indigenous tribes, Christians, and other sectors.” -- Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez READ SOURCE

 

"We are hoping it will not become a `watered down' BBL." -- Ghazali Jaafar, MILF's vice chairman for political affairs READ SOURCE 

 

“I don’t suppose the Bangsamoro Basic Law will reach plenary before the end of the year. I’m not confident it can.” -- House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II READ SOURCE 

 

"It is my firm belief that the wisdom of the House and the Senate will come up with a legislation that is faithful to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law." -- Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator and Bangsamoro Transition Commission chairman READ SOURCE 

 

“This, our esteemed legislators, is a daunting task. The future of a people who for centuries have fought for self-determination now lies in your hands. This law is for the children who wish to run across school grounds instead of running for their lives. This law is for families who want to put life into the earth through crops and produce, no longer to dig graves for their fathers and sons who have fallen in war. This law is what will help them realize their wishes and dreams.” -- ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman READ SOURCE

 

“What we will look at with care is that the Bangsamoro Basic Law should be within the four corners of the Constitution… that will be one major point of examination.” -- Senate President Franklin Drilon READ SOURCE 

 

“We will study this proposal very carefully. We will not rush its submission to Congress. More important for us is the participation of stakeholders in Mindanao. We want to hear them speak. We will listen. Our committee plans to undertake consultative meetings with all sectors in major cities and towns in Mindanao.” -- Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government READ SOURCE 

 

“I share the elation of my fellow Mindanaoans as we move closer to the passage of a Bangsamoro Basic Law that addresses the aspirations of our people for peace and meaningful development. I state for the record the commitment of the Senate Committee on Peace and Unification to ensure that this historic and landmark piece of legislation shall be completed and passed soonest.” -- Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chair of the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation READ SOURCE

 

“What is not clear is how any changes made by Congress will be handled by the two sides.” -- Steven Rood, country representative of the Asia Foundation in the Philippines READ SOURCE 

 

On hearing Nur Misuari’s views on the Bangsamoro

 

“We are thinking about allowing a suspension of that to allow Chairman Nur Misuari to come and speak and give us his idea because if you remember the Zamboanga uprising was precisely a product of the MNLF feeling that they were left out of the process.” -- Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. READ SOURCE 

 

On the passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law

 

“I think this is the main antidote to whatever radicalization in Mindanao.” -- Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator and Bangsamoro Transition Commission chairman READ SOURCE 

 

“Bangsamoro is not the end of the ARMM. It is the beginning of peace and progress, the groundwork of which was made possible by the ARMM. Far from being a failed experiment, the ARMM is living proof that good governance can lead only to success, and that success is what will fuel the Bangsamoro’s continuing quest for peace, progress, and the right to self-rule.” -- ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman READ SOURCE 

 

"I think both the government and rebels are overly confident about this law to resolve everything." -- Earl Parreno, analyst, Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms READ SOURCE

 

“The enormous development challenges call for capable individuals to run the Bangsamoro and make peace work.” -- The Philippine Star in its editorial

 

“We are giving ourselves until the first quarter of next year. There’s enough time to have it set for plebiscite and have the transition commission in place before the 2016 election.” -- Senate President Franklin Drilon READ SOURCE 

 

“The viability of an autonomous system lies ultimately in its ability to define its own environment. Autonomy is not isolation. It means, rather, being able to determine one’s own points of connection to the world. This is something that is not acquired overnight, but is developed only in the course of a cognitive openness to the possibilities that a complex world has to offer.” -- Columnist Randy David writing in the Philippine Daily Inquirer

 

“At its best, the creation of an enlarged Bangsamoro boosted with greater power and resources than other local governments in the rest of the Republic could bring peace and prosperity in strife-torn Mindanao. At its worst, however, the insertion of a parliamentary-type Bangsamoro into our presidential system could lay the basis for a separate Muslim state spinning off under the principle of the self-determination of peoples.” -- Columnist Federico Pascual writing in the Philippine Star

 

“Whatever we try to implement will have to recognize that there are these political realities on the ground. We have to take that into account as well because there are political, there are tribal, there are regional issues that have to be taken into account.” -- Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. READ SOURCE 

 

More reactions

 

"We want lasting peace in Maguindanao, in the Bangsamoro homeland. We are convinced this peace process will hasten the attainment of that desire which has been here in our hearts since we were still small children." -- Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu READ SOURCE 

 

“My support and prayers. Hoping all is aligned to our Constitution.” -- North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza READ SOURCE 

 

“This is a critical milestone in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), and a crucial achievement in ensuring lasting peace and sustainable development in Mindanao and in the wider Philippines.” -- media statement from the UN Information Center