Aquino may certify as urgent Bangsamoro law

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Benigno S. Aquino III will likely certify as an "urgent" measure the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law so that Congress may immediately deliberate on it and approve it by 2015, a senior government official said today.

The enactment of a Bangsamoro Basic Law is necessary before a plebiscite could be held by 2015 to determine the areas to be covered by the new political entity which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the drafting of the law by the 15-man Transition Commission led by Mohagher Iqbal, chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), is now in full swing.

The commission immediately buckled down to work after the Philippine government and the MILF completed all four annexes which form part of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro on Jan. 25 in Malaysia.

It hopes to finish the draft law by April this year so it could be submitted to Aquino who will forward it to Congress and likely certify it as an "urgent" measure.

Coloma said debates on the draft law are expected when it reaches Congress but he expressed hope that it could be enacted " in due time."

The first election in the new Bangsamoro political entity is targeted to be held in 2016.