Palace: Transition Commission could effectively draft Bangsamoro Basic Law

Malacanang expressed optimism the Transition Commission (TransCom) could do its mandate of drafting the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law based on the Framework Agreement agreed upon by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front last year.

"Ang mandato nila [TransCom] is to come up with the Basic Law. Yun ang magiging trabaho nila: to draft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law with provisions consistent with the 2012 Framework Agreement," Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.

"Ang kailangan natin dito gumawa ng Basic Law. So I think that's something that is doable. All the members of Transition Commission are members of the Bangsamoro. So I don't see any problem there. They will be discussing it," he said on the first en banc of the TransCom.

He said that the discussions will push through because the common aspiration of both sides is peace and development in Mindanao.

With regards to the postponement of the peace talks that might affect the timeline in crafting the Basic Law, Lacierda said the government thinks otherwise, echoing the statement of the MILF saying that the final peace pact will be signed.

Asked to comment whether the recent dissolution of the Malaysian parliament to give way for an election may affect the peace talks, Lacierda said he can't speculate on the outcome of Malaysia's political process.

The election in Malaysia is supposed to be held within 60 days from the dissolution of the parliament.

"I can't speculate right now as to whether it will have an effect on the peace talks. But, as a matter of policy, Malaysia has been our facilitator for these talks and they have been very helpful," he said. Malacanang expressed optimism the Transition Commission (TransCom) could do its mandate of drafting the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law based on the Framework Agreement agreed upon by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front last year.

"Ang mandato nila [TransCom] is to come up with the Basic Law. Yun ang magiging trabaho nila: to draft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law with provisions consistent with the 2012 Framework Agreement," Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.

"Ang kailangan natin dito gumawa ng Basic Law. So I think that's something that is doable. All the members of Transition Commission are members of the Bangsamoro. So I don't see any problem there. They will be discussing it," he said on the first en banc of the TransCom.

He said that the discussions will push through because the common aspiration of both sides is peace and development in Mindanao.

With regards to the postponement of the peace talks that might affect the timeline in crafting the Basic Law, Lacierda said the government thinks otherwise, echoing the statement of the MILF saying that the final peace pact will be signed.

Asked to comment whether the recent dissolution of the Malaysian parliament to give way for an election may affect the peace talks, Lacierda said he can't speculate on the outcome of Malaysia's political process.

The election in Malaysia is supposed to be held within 60 days from the dissolution of the parliament.

"I can't speculate right now as to whether it will have an effect on the peace talks. But, as a matter of policy, Malaysia has been our facilitator for these talks and they have been very helpful," he said. (PNA)