Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri unveiled his latest book, The Road to Peace: Crafting the Bangsamoro Organic Law, a vivid chronicle of the legislative journey behind one of the Philippines’ most significant legal milestones: the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). The coffee table book not only highlights the triumphs of the BOL, but also paints a clear picture of the challenges and sacrifices required to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao.
Held at the Old Senate Session hall, the launch was a celebration for the collaborative efforts that turned a decades-long vision of autonomy and self-determination for the Bangsamoro people into reality. The senator explained, “BOL is extremely important not just for the Bangsamoro region, but also for the whole country. This shows nothing is impossible in the pursuit of peace and progress.”
The Bangsamoro Organic Law, enacted in 2018, served as the legal foundation for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), granting the region greater autonomy, allowing it to address long-standing issues of governance, economic disparity and armed conflict. The law stemmed from the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a peace pact heralded as a cornerstone in the country’s efforts to end decades of strife and war.
Senators Grace Poe and Joel Villanueva, Secretary Sonny Angara, Senators Abby Binay, Cynthia Villar and Loren LegardaSenators Grace Poe and Joel Villanueva, Secretary Sonny Angara, Senators Abby Binay, Cynthia Villar and Loren Legarda