Manila – The Philippine government on Sunday acknowledged the concerns that the Congress might not be able to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by the end of the year following the delay in the filing of the bill.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the government continues to hope for the immediate passage of the law as both the government panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continue to work together with the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to make sure that the BBL will be passed into law smoothly.

He said the panels are now working on the “language” of the BBL to make sure that it reflects the peace roadmap, and is in accordance with the Constitution.

Coloma said President Benigno Aquino and MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim had also reiterated their determination to have peace in Mindanao.

The passage of the BBL is part of the comprehensive agreement that the Philippine government and the MILF, the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, signed in March this year to end the decades-old armed conflict in southern Philippines. Source: Xinhua