Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte approved the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which gives the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region the political and economic powers that successive governments promised the separatists
Rodrigo Duterte is President of the Philippines since June 2016. (Photo Reuters) MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte today approved a long-awaited law to allow Muslim minorities in the South to move towards autonomy by 2022 in order to fight against extremism and defuse a half century of separatist conflict. [19659004Fefuelistheresultofalong-termpeaceagreementwithparaplegistswhilethoseofthemilitantslinkedtotheIslamicStatehavebeenseverelyaffectedbytheiroccupationoftheMarawilwalledestate
Duterte Signed According to a spokesman, Harry Roque, told reporters that the journalist had made a visit to a southern city .
Ebrahim Murad, president of the separatis The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said he was confident that the law would help reintegrate separatist groups and eliminate the prospects of any incident like that of Marawi.
Bangsamoro's Organic Law, as it's called, told reporters, "All of these dissident groups are the result of frustration over the peace process. 39, accept more foreign elements, they can no longer come (to the Philippines). "
The Bangsamoro region includes part of the Philippines' second largest island, Mindanao, as well as a chain of dozens of small, notorious western islands for piracy and banditry.
An estimated five million Muslims live in the area, which has the lowest level of employment, income, education, and economic development of the Christian nation. Behind the process of autonomy was "a long-awaited dream," said Jesus Dureza, Duterte's chief advisor for peace.
The new law confers on the new entity, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, political and economic powers promised separatists in order to put an end to the conflict that killed about 120,000 people, displaced two millions and helped radical Islam gain a foothold in the region.
Mindanao remains under martial law until the end of this year to allow security forces to stop a reunion by a pro-Islamic state alliance that has held Marawi through five months of aerial and ground assaults.
The MILF condemned the extremists and its fighters helped the government
Then comes a referendum in October, where a positive result would allow Duterte to appoint a group of 80 members to set up a parliamentary system based on the Federal Government of Malaysia.
MILF leaders welcomed the Bangsamoro "We will not stop there, we will continue to engage the government until amendments are made to the law later to get what we really wanted", Mohaqher Iqbal, chief negotiator of the MILF. , told Reuters after the final text was accepted.
Iqbal said the rebels were to downgrade 30 percent of their 40,000 weapons after the referendum.
Although many powers will be decentralized, the National Government will retain control of security.