MANILA, Philippines -- The draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is currently in the final stages of refinement and it will be submitted to Congress before President Benigno S. Aquino III leaves for Europe and the United States next week.

"The draft BBL is now undergoing final stages of refinement. By the estimate of the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) panel and Bangsamoro Transition Commission chair Mohagher Iqbal, the draft bill is now 99.99 percent done," Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said in a statement on Tuesday.

READ FULL STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON THE PEACE PROCESS HERE

The presidential review of the draft Bangsamoro basic law was completed almost two weeks ago, based on the President's comments.
 

Both the government and the MILF panels have held discussions and exchanges of notes, and the results were also submitted to the President, Deles said.
 

The government and the MILF signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro last March, aiming to end the decades-long Muslim separatism in Mindanao.
 

Once the BBL is passed by Congress, a plebiscite will be held and a transition authority will be created prior to the holding of an election synchronized with the 2016 elections.
 

President Aquino has vowed to push for the holding of a fair and democratic election in 2016 that will elect leaders of the newly created Bangsamoro region.

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