Duterte signs proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday enacted the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law.

“The BBL has been signed,” Duterte said in mix of Filipino and English during the 69th Araw ng Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay.

After initially telling reporters that Duterte had not signed the bill yet, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that the President indeed signed the bill into law on Thursday night.

"This is to announce that the President has just signed the BOL into law," Roque said in a message to reporters.

Duterte said he had been trying to talk to the enemies of the state, and thanked Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari for reining in his forces.

"Nur, if you are my brother, Nur, if you are listening, I would like to thank you for just narerendahan mo ‘yung pwersa mo. Let us talk because we are old. Fighting is no longer an option for you and for me. Usap na lang tayo," the President said.

Congress failed to submit the bill for Duterte's signature in time for his third State of the Nation Address on Monday because of the leadership squabble in the House of Representatives.

The House ratified the reconciled version of the bill the next day.

Duterte earlier promised the nation that he would sign the proposed BOL within 48 hours from the time he received the ratified bill.

The President had been pushing for the enactment of the BOL, which aims to end decades of conflict in Mindanao by creating a political entity that would enjoy greater autonomy than the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. — BM, GMA News