PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday pledged anew to push for the immediate passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) during his second State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Duterte said that his administration remains committed to pursuing “just and lasting peace.”

“We’re pursuing inclusive peace processing,” he said in a speech delivered at Batasan Complex in Quezon City.

“[The proposed BBL will be passed] to ensure a Bangsamoro government that truly reflects the aspirations of our Muslim brothers and sisters,” he added.

On July 17, Duterte received the revised BBL by 21-member Bangsamoro Transition Committee.

The final version of the BBL seeks to replace the earlier version stalled in the 16th Congress.

The draft Moro law under the Duterte administration aims to establish a Bangsamoro entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front vice chair for political affairs, Ghazali Jaafar, who served as chair of BTC, earlier said that the proposed Moro law is now “more inclusive.”

“It reflects the diversity of interests of the Bangsamoro people, non-Bangsamoro, indigenous people. These interests are united under one goal – establish a just, dignified and lasting peace,” Jaafar said during the turn-over rites of proposed BBL.

“We need the passage of this proposed BBL into law so we can start rebuilding our lives. We believe that in your time and under your leadership, we, Moro brothers and sisters, would see [its successful passage],” he added. (SunStar Philippines)