By Jose Cielito Reganit/PNA
MANILA — As voters prepare to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), a Mindanao lawmaker on Tuesday urged Muslims, Christians and other religious denominations to unite and pray for peace for the Bangsamoro homeland.
The plebiscite for the ratification of the BOL is set for January 21 and February 6.
“We urge all our peace-loving countrymen to join us in our prayer for a peaceful and successful ratification of the BOL,” Maguindanao Rep. Bai Sandra Sema said in a press briefing at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.
She also urged all qualified voters to participate in the plebiscite and be part of the historic event that will “unify all the people in the Bangsamoro Homeland.”
“This law, being an instrument of peace, is intended to benefit not only the Muslims but also the Christians, Lumad and other faith,” Sema said.
According to the Commission on Elections, there are some 2.8 million registered voters in the region included in the plebiscite.
The Maguindanao lawmaker also thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for his commitment to finally put a stop the age-old problem of rebellion in Mindanao as she acknowledged his attendance in the upcoming peace assembly to be held this Friday in Cotabato City.
Malacañang earlier confirmed that the President will speak before the assembly to make a final push for the ratification of the BOL.
“It actually took this President from Mindanao to put a stop to this. He really understands the necessity of already putting a solution to this problem. He is the number one supporter of BOL, we are only supporting actors,” Sema said.
“He’s really the one who pushed this. We thank the President for this legacy,” Sema said.
The BOL, one of the requirements under a 2014 peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), seeks to grant wider self-rule to predominantly Muslim provinces and cities in southern Philippines.
Once ratified, a new political entity, to be called the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, would be established in place of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
