Moro people will back Bangsamoro law in plebiscite: MILF

MANILA - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said Tuesday it is confident that the Bangsamoro Organic Law, although only 80 to 90 percent compliant with their 2014 peace deal with the government, would be acceptable to the Moro people.

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Speaking to ANC, MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim said their initial consultations in the organization after the bicameral conference committee approved the proposed law reveal that its acceptability is "quite high."

"We started immediately our consultation. We started from the top level of our organization and the acceptability is quite high because I think they understand that we are in a negotiation and we expected we cannot get all what we want," he said.

The MILF leader also assured that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority will be inclusive and that the Moro National Liberation Front will have a seat on the body that will handle the shift towards the new Bangsamoro entity.

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After President Rodrigo Duterte signs the measure into law, the MILF will have 90 days to promote it to the Moro people before holding the plebiscite. The Bangsamoro law is expected to grant wider autonomy to Muslim Mindanao. 

Passing a Bangsamoro law is one of the requirements of the peace pact signed by the MILF and the government under then-President Benigno Aquino III in 2014.

Murad hopes the House of Representatives will ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law following yesterday's delay, and that President Duterte will fulfill the promise of signing it within a couple of days.