The Bangsamoro Basic Law, and often referred to by the acronym " BBL"

(Filipino: Batayang Batas para sa Rehiyong Awtonomo ng Bangsamoro),

[1]

is a bill currently under deliberation by the Congress of the

Philippines which, when passed, would establish a proposed new

autonomous political entity known as the Bangsamoro Autonomous
Region, replacing the current Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM).[2]
As an organic act, the Basic Law would provide for the basic structure of
government for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and enact the
agreements set forth in the Comprehensive Agreement on the
Bangsamoro, which is the peace agreement signed between
the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in
2014.[2]

Parts of the Proposed Law[edit]

The various portions of the BBL as proposed by the Bangsamoro Transition
Commission which had been assigned to draft the bill include sections
covering:[3]

General Provisions

Bangsamoro Identity

Bangsamoro territory

Political Autonomy and Bangsamoro Government

Inter-Governmental Relations

Bangsamoro Justice System

Public Order and Safety

Fiscal Autonomy

Economy and Patrimony

Natural Resources

details of the plebiscite that would lead to ratification of the BBL

and the details of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority that would be

set up in the meantime

Legislative process and replacement bills[edit]

The draft of the law was submitted by President Benigno Aquino

III to Congress leaders on September 10, 2014.[4]
An Ad Hoc committee assigned to the bill by Philippine House of
Representatives passed its version of the bill, House Bill 5811, on May 20,
2015. The bill is now under interpellation in the house plenary.[5][6]
In the Philippine Senate, a revised version of the BBL, known as the
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Law (Senate Bill 2894 [7]), was presented
on August 11, 2015[8] after lengthy deliberations on the BBL in the
Committee on Local Government,[8] and was due for interpellation on
August 17, 2015.[9] Due to the length and complexity of the bill, however, the
senate temporarily deferred the period of interpellation for the bill. [10]
History of the Bangsamoro Peace Agreements[edit]

The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro[edit]

Main article: Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro
On 15 October 2012, a preliminary peace agreement was signed in
the Malacaan Palace between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and
the Government of the Philippines. This was the Framework Agreement
on the Bangsamoro, which called for the creation of an autonomous
political entity named Bangsamoro, replacing the Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).[11]
The signing came at the end of peace talks held in Kuala
Lumpur in Malaysia from 26 October. These talks were the last of 32
peace talks between the two parties, which spanned a period of nine years.
[11]

The Annexes and Addendum to the FAB[edit]

The Framework Agreement was later fleshed out [12] by four Annexes and an
addendum:

The Annex on Transitional Modalities and Arrangements established the transitional process for the establishment of the
Bangsamoro, and detailed the creation of the Bangsamoro Transition
Commission, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, and the Bangsamoro
Basic Law. This Annex was signed on Feb. 27, 2013.

The Annex on Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing enumerated the sources of wealth creation and financial assistance for
the new Bangsamoro entity. This Annex was signed on July 13, 2013.

The Annex on Power Sharing - discussed intergovernmental

relations of the central government, the Bangsamoro government and
the local government units under the Bangsamoro. This Annex was
signed on Dec. 8, 2013.

The Annex on Normalization - paved the way for the laying down of
weapons of MILF members and their transition to civilian life.
Normalization is the process through which the communities affected by
the conflict in Mindanao can return to peaceful life and pursue
sustainable livelihood. This Annex was signed on Jan. 25, 2014.

The Addendum on the Bangsamoro Waters and Zones of Joint

Cooperation - Signed on Jan. 25, 2014, this addendum detailed the
scope of waters under the territorial jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro (12
nautical miles from the coast), and Zones of Joint Cooperation or bodies
of water (Sulu Sea and Moro Gulf) within the territory of the Philippines

but not within the Bangsamoro.

The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro[edit]
Main article: Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro
On 27 March 2014, a final peace agreement fully fleshing out the terms of
the framework agreement and annexes, known as the Comprehensive
Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) was signed between the two parties.
[13]

Under the agreement, the Islamic separatists would turn over their

firearms to a third party, which would be selected by the rebels and the
Philippine government.[13] The MILF had agreed to decommission its armed
wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). In return, the
government would establish an autonomous Bangsamoro.[13] Power sharing
was a central point to the autonomy redesign. [13]

MANILA, Philippines President Aquino made a desperate appeal yesterday to

members of the House of Representatives to pass the proposed Bangsamoro
Basic Law (BBL), warning of the possible resurgence of Islamic extremism in the
country if the proposal, which creates a new autonomous region in Mindanao is
not approved.
For 20 minutes, Aquino spoke before 150 House members over lunch at the
Heroes Hall in Malacaang, saying the opportunity to pass the landmark BBL
may not come again, lawmakers who attended the meeting said.
But the House failed to muster a quorum enough to resume the plenary debates
on the BBL yesterday. After the roll call, only 134 of the 287-member chamber
were listed as present, prompting the leadership to adjourn the session. At least
150 members are needed to constitute a quorum.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, BBL principal author, said the House
might not be able to approve the proposal as the body only has days left before it
adjourns on Dec. 18.
I think we are fast running out of time for its approval. It is unlikely that we will be
able to do it in the remaining four session days of Congress before the Christmas
break next weekend, Rodriguez added.
In a statement after the meeting, Presidential Communications Operations Office
Sec. Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino called on the House to seize the historic
opportunity of enacting the BBL and laying the foundations for long-term peace.
He (Aquino) said that passing the BBL now has become more imperative in view
of the increased threats posed by global terrorism and radicalization. The
President urged the members of Congress to rise to the challenge of being able
to change the narrative, referring to the cycle of violence and poverty that has
stalled peace and progress in Mindanao, Coloma noted.

He added that Aquino in his talks with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime
Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy as well as Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican
Secretary of State, was asked about how the Philippine government has
succeeded in achieving an agreement with the Bangsamoro.
Coloma said it was at these instances that Aquino pointed to the BBL as
providing a template for peace building that may be considered by the
international community.
Among those present during the two-hour meeting were Speaker Feliciano
Belmonte Jr.; Deputy Speakers Henedina Abad, Giorgidi Aggabao, Pangalian
Balindong, Carlos Padilla and Roberto Puno; Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales
Jr. and Rodriguez, chairman of the ad hoc panel on the BBL.
The President said in this world thats full of strife, we must act swiftly to achieve
peace. He said we must give peace a chance in Mindanao as this opportunity
might not come again, Belmonte told reporters.
Belmonte also spoke during the meeting and warned the terror attacks abroad
could reach the country if the passage of the BBL is stalled.
He (Aquino) told us that he asks himself every time he looks at the mirror, he
asks himself whether he has done everything he could to have BBL passed,
Gonzales said in a separate interview.
Gonzales said Aquino cited the apprehension of Moro Islamic Liberation Force
(MILF) leaders that they would lose credibility before the younger MILF members
if they will not be able to see the enactment of the BBL into law.
Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said Aquino pointed out that he only has 205
days left in office and that he will do what he thinks is best for the country. Aquino
also reportedly cited the deadly Paris attacks staged by the Islamic State and
warned the same thing could happen in the country.

Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano III, a member of the opposition bloc, said Aquino
pointed out that the Philippines could set an example before the international
community in enacting the measure into law.
No time, warm bodies

Aquino also joked that those lined up to interpellate on the floor should just limit
their questions or remove their names from the list of interpellators.
There was one taker: A Teacher party-list Rep. Juliet Cortuna, who said she
would no longer interpellate on the BBL.
Gonzales said there are 18 to 21 House members still listed for interpellation,
adding that achieving a quorum is one thing and maintaining it through out the
session is another.
(Achieving quorum) on the floor is a feel thing. Its not that well ram its (BBL)
approval but if the interpellators are absent, then its possible, he said when
asked when the voting could come.