Country Philippines Time zone PST (UTC+8) | Demonym(s) Bangsamoro | |
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Projected establishment Upon the ratification of the Basic Law on selected areas in Muslim Mindanao | ||
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is a proposed autonomous region within the Philippines. The proposal is part of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, a preliminary peace agreement signed between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government.
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Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
The new entity is intended to supersede the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which President Benigno Aquino III described as a "failed experiment." The new political entity seeks to bring closure to the 17-year peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro people in the Mindanao.
Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro
On 15 October 2012, the historic preliminary agreement was signed by government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen, MILF Peace Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbl (nom de guerre), and Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed along with President Aquino, Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia, Chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim of the MILF, and Secretary-General Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation at the Malacañang Palace in Manila. The document outlines general agreements on major issues, including the extent of power, revenues, and territory granted for the new Muslim autonomous region. At the first stage of the negotiation, Malaysia's involvement as the facilitator has caused a concern among Filipino communities, as been reported by media in the Philippines. It was, however have, explained by the Malaysian side that its involvement was due to the request by the Philippine government and MILF.
The Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro was signed at Malacañang in 27 March 2014, as witnessed by leaders and members of MILF and the Philippine government, as well as by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose country served as the third-party negotiator in the peace talks.
Possible delay of Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL)
On 25 January 2015, 44 members of the Special Action Force were killed after the killing of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir aka Marwan, by allegedly the MILF and BIFF. Senator Bongbong Marcos, Chairman of the Committee on Local Government in the Senate, suspended the hearings on the BBL due to the bloody encounter, while Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and JV Ejercito withdrew as an author in the BBL bill.
Dozens have been killed in the fighting, including 44 police commandos, 17 MILF rebels and three civilians.
Senate version of the Basic Law
In the Philippine Senate, a revised version of the BBL, known as the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, was presented on 11 August 2015 after lengthy deliberations on the BBL in the Committee on Local Government, and was due for interpellation on 17 August 2015. Due to the length and complexity of the bill, however, the senate temporarily deferred the period of interpellation for the bill. The 16th Congress went on recess without passing the bill on 2 February 2016.
Proposed federalism
The Bangsamoro Basic Law bill has been shelved and will not be taken up by the 17th Congress of the Philippines. Instead the bill would be subsumed by federalism which has been proposed by President Rodrigo Duterte. In case the proposed federalism fails to be passed, President Dueterte said that he will concede to the provisions of the bill.