President Aquino, Murad met to iron out details of draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, says Palace

President Benigno S. Aquino III and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak witness MILF Peace Panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal, GPH Peace Panel chairperson Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Malaysian facilitator Tengku Ghafar affix their signature to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in a ceremony at the Kalayaan grounds of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (March 27). Also in photo are MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles. (Photo by Gil Nartea/ Robert Viñas/ Rodolfo Manabat/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al Haj Murad met last week to clarify and resolve issues in the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will be submitted to Congress on Wednesday.

“The meeting between the President and Chairman Murad resulted in the clarification and resolution of issues pertaining to the details of the implementation of the peace agreement that are embodied in the draft law,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. during Tuesday’s press briefing.

Both leaders deemed it urgent and important that this draft Bangsamoro law be completed, he said.

“That is why they took the opportunity to meet face-to-face, together with the other significant participants in this process from the Philippine and the MILF panels,” he added, noting that the draft law faithfully represents the agreement between the Philippine government and the MILF.

The Palace is making the preparations for the transmittal of the document to the Senate President and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Coloma said.

The draft was scheduled to be submitted to Congress last May, but it was delayed due to some differences from both sides.

Once it is passed by Congress, the President said he would aggressively push for the conduct of a fair and democratic poll in the region for the election of its leaders in 2016.