Cotabato City (CNN Philippines) — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) stood firm that the original version of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) agreed by the MILF, Malacañan and two peace panels is the effective law to govern the Bangsamoro people.
This was the statement made by MILF First Vice Chairman Ghadzali Jaafar after Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos submitted his owned version of the BBL in the senate yesterday.
Related: 17 senators sign Committee report on substitute BBL
Jaafar admitted that before Marcos submitted his draft bill, Sens. Serge Osmenia and Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Marcos invited him in separate private meetings to discuss the proposed bill.
According to Jaafar, they had the same sentiments to amend the Organic Act of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and to include some important provisions of the BBL.
Marcos expressed his plan to change some provisions of the BBL, he added.
Jaafar said that they were not surprised on the Senate’s development on the BBL issue.
He said they respect the power of the Joint Congress in the enactment of the law but the MILF wants to have a strong and not a watered down law.
The MILF also said that their plan to join in the 2016 elections will depend on the enactment of the BBL.
