The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government have agreed on a mutually acceptable draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to be endorsed by President Benigno S. Aquino III for enactment by Congress. This was confirmed in a meeting between the President and MILF Chair Murad Ebrahim held last Thursday, 4 September, in Malacanang. Chair Murad was accompanied by MILF panel and Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) Chair Mohagher Iqbal while the President was joined by several cabinet members, led by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., and GPH panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.

Over the weekend, the BTC met en banc to review the final version of the draft bill. The BTC is poised to submit a letter transmitting the draft BBL to the Office of the President later today. The letter was signed by all BTC members yesterday afternoon at the end of their two-day meeting.

The President has decided to personally submit the completed draft to Congress to highlight the importance of the proposed legislative measure. The BBL tops the list of priority legislation which was submitted by the Office of the President to Congress two days after the President's State of the Nation Address.

The turnover of the draft legislation is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 10 September, at 10:00 AM in Malacañang. The President will personally hand over the draft BBL to Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who will lead their respective delegations to receive the draft bill. The ceremony will be attended by Chair Mohagher Iqbal and members of the BTC as well as members of both negotiating panels.

As the implementation of the CAB moves to the next stage of the process, we again ask for everyone's prayers and support as we continue to endeavor to address and overcome all the challenges that surely still lie in our path towards a just and enduring peace in the Bangsamoro and for the entire country. -- opapp.gov.ph