Manila, Philippines (PIA) - The Palace on Thursday appealed to those sowing doubts and speculations to avoid actions that will not help bring lasting peace to Mindanao.

Reacting to questions on the hurdles faced by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in finding an acceptable draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said both sides remain determined to come up with a draft bill.

"Patuloy na sinisikap ng Philipppine at MILF panels na magkasundo sa isang draft Bangsamoro Basic Law," Coloma said during the daily press briefing in Malacañang.

He said government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer has declared that both the government and the MILF are determined to come up with an acceptable draft.

"Kaya dapat lang po siguro na iwasan iyong mga maliligalig na ispekulasyon hinggil diyan dahil patuloy pa rin naman po sa pagsisikap na makabuo nitong Bangsamoro Basic Law," he said.

Asked by reporters if there is a need to change the Constitution to accommodate the demands of the MILF, Coloma said both sides are working on finding a common ground and are not concentrating on areas that are unacceptable to both panels.

The government and the MILF last March signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which aims to end armed conflict in Mindanao.

A draft bill of the Bangsamoro Basic Law is currently being ironed out by both sides before it is submitted to Congress.

The Palace hopes that once the draft bill is passed and becomes a law, there would be enough time to hold a plebiscite and organize the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

The Bangsamoro Transitional Authority will govern until the election of the first official leaders of the Bangsamoro political entity in 2016.

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