The MILF welcomes the ratification of the Bangsamoro law by the House of Representatives and reassures the employees of the ARMM

Greater Manila (CNN Philippines, July 25) – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) celebrated the imminent signing of the Organic Bangsamoro Act, ensuring the ARMM employees affected by the transition to a new autonomous government

MILF president, Al-haj Murad Ebrahim, was all smiles when he learned that the House of Representatives had ratified Bangsamoro's organic law, stating that the first stage of the process was finally completed.

We hope that it is the key to advance na wala nang sagabal dito [there are no more hindrances] after that.

The House ratified on Tuesday the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which creates the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

With both Houses of Congress approving the project, the President can already sign it into law. [19659003] The Senate ratified the final draft of the proposal The Bangsamoro Organic Law at the opening of the Third Session of the 17th Congress on Monday

Expressing Tuesday in front of the members of the Association of Correspondents Filipino aliens (FOCAP), Ebrahim said he was surprised to witness the controversial state coup and that they needed to comfort their people after the incident.

"We we really need to comfort them because there is a very bad experience before we are in the line of arrival and that something is happening, "said Ebrahim." We try to make sure that our people in the field do not do any ac that would be negative to the situation we are facing now. "

Chief Moro had high hopes that the law would be signed within 48 hours President Duterte promised at his SONA on Monday.

Compensation for Employees and Affected Fighters

Ebrahim also dispelled the fear of ARMM employees from losing their jobs. "They will not automatically come out … We have the power to filter employees, we'll see who should be replaced."

Chief Moro assured that the entire bureaucracy of the ARMM, which employs about 40,000 people, will not be abolished.

Ebrahim said that although the new government of Bangsamoro will offer compensation based on the Civil Service Act, only those who will be dismissed out of necessity and who will not have wrongdoing will see themselves offer severance pay.

The new Bangsamoro government will also provide compensation to fighters who deliver their weapons.

According to Ebrahim, the government will offer two types of assistance: individual and collective assistance.

He stated that a "Standardization Trust Fund" will be used to help those involved in the process and some civilians. Cooperatives that offer a livelihood program would also be set up.

"They are going to wait for something … we are also making sure their needs are taken into account," said Ebrahim.

Second step: plebiscite

The MILF says that he is now preparing the second step: conducting the plebiscite.

It will cover the cities and provinces under the former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Groups of autonomous regions include the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Residents will vote if they approve of the new Bangsamoro government.

The provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato will also vote to see if certain areas should be included in the Bangsamoro region.

Ebrahim is confident that the law will garner strong support. "The possibility of having a wider area is very high."