DESPITE the failure of the House of Representatives to ratify the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed Monday, July 23, to sign the measure within "48 hours."
In his third State of the Nation Address (Sona), the President guaranteed that he would sign into law the landmark measure that will establish a new Bangsamoro region with greater autonomy.
"Despite all that has been said [for] or against the Bangsamoro Organic Law by sectoral groups, I make this solemn commitment that this administration will never deny our Muslim brothers and sisters the basic legal tools to chart their own destiny within the Constitutional framework of our country," Duterte said.
"Give me 48 hours to sign it and ratify the law," he added.
Duterte was expected to sign the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which was renamed Bangsamoro Organic Law, on the day of his third State of the Nation Address (Sona).
But with the non-ratification of the bill by the House, Duterte could not sign the draft Moro law into law.
The measure seeks the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Under the proposed organic law, the BARMM will be composed of ARMM provinces --Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur -- while waiting for a regional plebiscite.
Subject of the regional plebiscite for inclusion in the BARMM were six municipalities of Lanao del Norte, 39 villages of North Cotabato, and chartered cities of Cotabato and Isabela. (SunStar Philippines)