President Rodrigo Duterte will lead today, Monday, the ceremonial signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, Malacañang confirmed Sunday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte will sign Republic Act 11054, or the BOL, which formally creates the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“We cannot underplay the significance of this signing as we take comfort in this momentous step toward building the foundation of a lasting peace in Mindanao,” Roque said.
“At the same time, we recognize that more work still lies ahead, and we thank all those who remain patient and committed to this arduous task.
“We look forward to working with our countrymen in Mindanao in bringing the much-needed development to the island.”
The Duterte administration considers the BOL as a landmark law.
The President even thanked Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri for pushing for the approval of the measure in the Senate.
“We had the Bangsamoro law under the sponsorship of Senator Zubiri”•the worthy son of the worthy father,” Duterte said in his speech in Bukidnon.
“Thank you for the help.”
Meanwhile, the leaders and officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front from the Bangsamoro Transition Commission are expected to attend the ceremonial signing of the BOL.
“I am sure the members of [the] Congress who supported the bill will be invited, the authors, and the stakeholders, including the Bangsamoro Transition Committee,” Roque told reporters last Wednesday.
The ceremonial signing of the BOL was originally planned during the President’s third State-of-the Nation Address on July 23.
But the presentation of that law was hampered for about two weeks due to a sudden change in the House of Representatives’ leadership.
