Rody to name Bangsamoro commission members

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte is expected to name the members of the expanded Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) next month, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said yesterday.

The BTC, which was created under Executive Order (EO) 8 signed on Nov. 7, is among the mechanisms under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. It will draft the enabling law that will establish and operationalize a new Bangsamoro political entity. 

The EO raised the number of BTC members from 15 to 21. The commission will have 10 members to be appointed by the government and 11, including its chairperson to be named by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Earlier, Dureza said the Moro National Liberation Front under the leadership of Muslimin Sema as well as indigenous peoples, sultanates and local government units in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao would form part of the BTC.

 The commission will form an assembly that will serve as a consultative body to discuss the proposed enabling law with various stakeholders. It will also draft a proposed measure that will replace the Bangsamoro Basic Law. 

Dureza said the deadline to draft the enabling law is in July 2017 in time for the resumption of the regular session of Congress.