VP Leni Robredo calls BOL ratification a ‘historic victory’

“Sa matagal na panahon, marami marahil ang nagsabing mananatiling pangarap lamang ang kapayapaan sa Mindanao,” Robredo said. (File photo: VP Leni Robredo/Facebook)

Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Friday, January 25, lauded the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), calling it a ‘historic victory’ for all Filipinos.

“Ang pagraratipika ng Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) ay isang makasaysayang tagumpay na dapat ipagmalaki ng lahat ng Pilipino, lalo na ng mga kapatid nating mula sa Mindanao (The ratification of the BOL is a historic victory that all Filipinos, especially our brothers and sisters in Mindanao, should be proud of),” the Vice President said.

“Bantayan at suportahan natin ang patuloy na pagsulong ng prosesong ito, dahil hindi pa dito nagtatapos ang laban para sa kapayapaan (Let us watch over and support this process because the fight for peace does not stop here),” she added.

The Commission on Election (Comelec), sitting as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC), on Friday night proclaimed that Republic Act (RA) 11054 or the BOL was “deemed ratified” after a majority of people in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) voted in favor of the ratification.

Based on the results, a total of 1,540,017 of the 1.9-million registered voters in the ARMM voted “yes” for the ratification of the BOL, while 198,750 of them voted “no.”

With the ratification, the BOL will replace the current ARMM with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) which will have more powers, resources, and a larger area, among others.

The BOL’s ratification is the final step in the peace deal between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), aiming to end the decades-long conflict in Mindanao.

“Sa matagal na panahon, marami marahil ang nagsabing mananatiling pangarap lamang ang kapayapaan sa Mindanao (For a long time, many may have said that peace in Mindanao would remain a dream),” Robredo said.

“Ngayon, pagkatapos ng ilang taon ng pagsisikap at pakikipag-usap, sakripisyo at paniniwala, sa wakas, ang pangarap na ito ay abot-kamay na rin natin (Now, after years of hard work, discussion, sacrifice, and belief, finally, this dream is within our reach),” she added.

The European Union (EU) Delegation in the country on Friday also congratulated the government, the MILF, and the Comelec for the “peaceful conduct” of the BOL plebiscite last Monday, January 21.

“The European Union has been a staunch supporter of the Mindanao Peace Process throughout the years, expressing its political support, encouraging all sides to pursue a peaceful solution and providing substantial financial support for the process,” it said.

“The EU is prepared to continue to support the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and to work closely with the relevant stakeholders towards long-lasting peace, development and prosperity for the benefit of Mindanao and the Filipino people,” it added.

The second BOL plebiscite is scheduled on February 6, Wednesday, which Malacañang has declared a special non-working day in Lanao del Norte and municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, Pigkawayan, and Tulunan all in the province of North Cotabato.