By Teofilo P. Garcia Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) -– National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Commissioner Mehol Sadain is optimistic that the Bangsamoro Basic Law will be enacted on or before the term of President Benigno S. Aquino III ends in 2016.
Sadian expressed his optimism in an interview Saturday, citing the Transition Commission members “made that commitment” when they visited President Aquino in Malacañang two days ago.
“I am sure they are going to honor their commitment,” Sadain said during the forum on the peace process with the members of the local media.
The Transition Commission is the one that will draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law to be submitted to President Aquino, who in turn will forward it to Congress for enactment into a law.
“There is going to be a deliberation (on the bill); the usual deliberation a bill undergoes before it becomes a law,” said Sadain, who sits as a member of the Government Peace Panel (GPH).
The Commission that will draft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law comprises of 15 members appointed by the President. It is chaired by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal.
Eight of the 15-man Commission, including the chairman, were nominated by the MILF peace panel and the remaining seven by the GPH.
Meanwhile, Sadain said they have strengthened the holding of information campaign to keep the public informed about the development on the peace process.
“We are stretching our resources in reaching out to as many people as possible to be able to explain to them about the peace process,” he added.
Sadain said that a forum attended by GPH Chairperson Miriam Ferrer was also going on Saturday in Maharlika Village, Taguig City, while he is holding a forum here with the members of the local media. (PNA)