Extremists may 'capitalize' on Bangsamoro law non-ratification, says MILF chairman

MANILA - Extremist groups in Mindanao might capitalize on the failure of the Bangsamoro Organic Law to be ratified, the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said Wednesday.

The BOL is up for plebiscite on two dates as set by the Commission on Elections – January 21 and February 6 next year.

"It will be capitalized by these extremist groups because for the meantime, when the BOL succeeded in passing Congress, they had no more justification in their campaign," MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim told ANC's Headstart.

"[If] the BOL is not passed, they will again capitalize on its failure in order to campaign, (be) more adherent in their campaign," he said.

The BOL, one of the requirements under a 2014 peace agreement between the government and the MILF, seeks to install a Bangsamoro political entity in place of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). It is envisioned to grant wider self-rule to predominantly Muslim provinces and cities.

In the interview, the MILF chairman noted he is "very confident the BOL will stand the constitutionality test."

"It has been processed many times during the negotiations, during the crafting of the law during the passing of the law in Congress. Everybody made sure the law will be constitutional," he said.

The petition from the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) seeking a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the law is the second challenge to the landmark law. 

The Province of Sulu last October also questioned the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 11054, or the BOL, and sought a halt order against its implementation.

• Sulu asks SC to void Bangsamoro Organic Law, stop plebiscite