On Friday 27 July, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) hailed the adoption of the Bangsamoro Organic Law by the Congress of the Philippines and its subsequent signing by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The law grants autonomy to the majority Muslim inhabited Mindanao region in the south of the country. It aims at forming a government and an independent Muslim political entity in Bangsamoro, the new name for Mindanao.
The adoption of the law by the parliament (226 votes in favour, 11 against, 2 abstentions) and the signature of the text by Duterte represent "an opportunity for the Filipino people to embrace peace and stability after decades of strife", the EEAS spokesperson stated in a press release. The spokesperson added that this law comes after 21 years of formal talks following the first ceasefire agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It underlines "both parties’ commitment to peace and their ability to tackle a variety of complex matters through a comprehensive and inclusive law", the EEAS spokesperson stated.
"All those involved in the negotiation and adoption of this law have undertaken important work to bring stability and well-being to the people of Mindanao", the spokesperson added. A peace agreement was signed in 2014 (see EUROPE 11050) following negotiations conducted intermittently since 1996. The conflict, which started in 1970, had claimed over 150,000 lives.
The EEAS spokesperson said that the EU remains "a staunch supporter" of the Mindanao peace process and is prepared to support the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the future. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)