This document summarizes the progress of establishing an autonomous political entity for the Bangsamoro in the Philippines. It discusses the agreements reached between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, including the Framework Agreement in 2012 and the Comprehensive Agreement in 2014. It also outlines the crucial stages in establishing the Bangsamoro, including drafting a Basic Law, holding a plebiscite, and elections. While progress has been made, differences remain between the MILF and government on issues like the scope of autonomy and control over natural resources.

1. UPDATES ON THE NEW
AUTONOMOUS POLITICAL
ENTITY AKA BANGSAMORO
Fr. Eliseo ‘Jun’ Mercado, OMI
Institute for Autonomy and Governance
NDU, Cotabato City

2. Appreciating the Significant Events…
• April 2012: The Ten Consensus Points
• October 15, 2012: Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro
• February 27, 2013: Annex 1: Agreement on Transitional
Arrangements and Modalities
• July 13, 2013: Annex 2: Agreement on Revenue Generation and
Wealth Sharing
• December 8,2013: Annex 3: Agreement on Power Sharing
• January 25, 2014: Annex 4: Agreement on Normalization and
the Addendum on the Bangsamoro Waters and Zones of Joint
Cooperation
• March 27, 2014: Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro

3. The GPH-MILF 10 Decision
Points
on Principle (April 2012)
Recognition of Bangsamoro Identity a
legitimate grievances
POINT 1POINT 2
The creation of the
‘New Autonomous Political Entity (NP
POINT 3 Continuing Negotiation
in the context of the agreed documen
POINT 4 The NPE shall have a
‘ministerial form of government’
POINT 5Transitional Period and
Transitional Mechanism
POINT 6Wealth sharing and
Power sharing formula
POINT 7 NPE is empowered to create its own
source of income
POINT 8Strengthen and Expand
existing Shari’ah Courts
POINT 9Creation of a third party MonitorPOINT 10The guarantee of the Bill of Rights
of the Constitution in the NPE

4. GPH-MILF Framework Agreement
(October 15, 2012)
I. Establishment of the Bangsamoro
II. Basic Law
III. Powers
IV. Revenue Generation & Sharing
V. Territory
VI. Basic Rights
VII. Transition and Implementation
VIII. Normalization
IX. Miscellaneous

5. Comprehensive Agreement on the
Bangsamoro or CAB
The CAB that was signed on March 27, 2014 consists of
the 17 Agreements signed between th GPH and the MILF
from 1997 to 2014.
The Ten Consensus Points (2012)
The FAB (2012)
The 4 Annexes:
• Transitional Arrangements and Modalities (2013);
• Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing (2013);
• Power Sharing (2013); and
• Normalization & the Bangsamoro Waters & Zones of Joint
Cooperation (2014).
The CAB (2014)

6. Crucial Stages
• Stage One: Comprehensive Peace Agreement
(Framework Agreement + 4 Annexes)
• Stage Two: Drafting of Basic Law by the Bangsamoro
Transition Commission (15 – member);
• Stage Three: Congress enacts the new Basic Law
• Stage Four: The Plebiscite determines the Bangsamoro
Territory/Constituent Units]
• Stage five: The formation of the Bangsamoro Transitional
Authority (BTA) that replaces the ARMM’ and
• Stage Six: Election in the new Bangsamoro New
Autonomous Political Entity (Assembly) in 2016

7. The Establishment of the Bangsamoro
• A NEW Organic Act or Bangsamoro Basic Law
shall establish the new autonomous political
entity (NAPE) aka Bangsamoro (referred to in
the Decision Points of Principles, April 2012).
• The government of the Bangsamoro shall have
a ministerial form.
• The relationship of the Central Government with
the Bangsamoro Government shall be
asymmetric.
• The Plebiscite on the BBL determines the
constituent units of the Bangsamoro.

8. Bangsamoro Identity
Those who at the time of conquest and colonization
were considered natives or original inhabitants of
Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago and its adjacent
islands including Palawan, and their descendants
whether of mixed or of full blood shall have the right to
identify themselves as Bangsamoro by ascription or
self-ascription.
Spouses and their descendants are classified as
Bangsamoro. The freedom of choice of other Indigenous
peoples shall be respected. (FAB Sec. 1, No. 5)

9. UPDATES ON THE
FORMULATION OF THE
BBL
Where we are at the moment….

10. BBL SCORECARD
Timeline
TARGETS ACTUAL
• March 31, 2014: BTC submits the
draft to the OP
• End of April: Draft submitted to
Congress
• May onwards: Congress
deliberates
• End of 2014: Passage of the BBL
into Law
• Plebiscite by the 1st qtr of 2015
• BTA installed by May 2015
• BM Govt elected in May 2016
• April 14: BTC submits partial draft
• April 22: Full draft submitted
• Review is ongoing to date
• Revised target date of submission
to Congress on July 28

11. BBL SCORECARD
BBL Process
GPH MILF
• Inclusive and consultative
• Platform for convergence
of MNLF-MILF tracks
• 3 criteria:
constitutionality; political
acceptability; practicality
• Essentially a
constitutional/legal
process
• Rally support to the CAB
• Consolidating the gains
in the negotiating table
• Implementing the CAB in
letter and spirit
• Essentially a political
process

12. BBL SCORECARD
BBL Substance
MILF/BTC GPH
• Primacy of Bangsamoro as
identity and nationality
• Bangsamoro ancestral domain
• Inclusivity, equal protection of
laws, guaranteeing minority rights
• “Ancestral domains” in the BM
• Asymmetric relationship akin to
federal and state relationship
• Asymmetric relationship akin to
ARMM-Manila
• Exclusive powers as exclusive • Exclusive powers as devolved
• Effective ministerial system with
substantial parliamentary
features
• Details of the form of government
subject to the constitution
• Autonomous constitutional bodies • Delegated powers under central
agencies

13. BBL SCORECARD
BBL Substance
MILF/BTC GPH
Land and waters connect Only land connects
ARMM as a voting unit Provinces, cities and geographic
units (municipalities and barangays)
Autonomous shariah system Part of the Philippine judicial system
BTA as having full legislative and
executive powers
BTA as transitory body
Effective control over BM waters Limited control over BM waters
Effective control over natural
resources
Devolved powers over natural
resources
Autonomous BM police BM police part of the national
system

14. Scenarios
• One: MILF accepts or rejects the Malacanang
certified BBL. (“swallow or reject”)
• Divided MILF: One group accepting and
Another group rejecting the Malacanang
certified BBL.
• MILF accepts but will not decommission and
sign exit agreement until charter change is
effected.

15. Political Trends
• BM issue is closely linked to 2016 elections
• BM issue should be seen as part of the broader
national agenda: federalism, charter change,
political reforms, decentralization.
• Can sustainable Mindanao peace be attained
with the current trajectory of the peace process?
What is missing? What must be reinforced?

16. Ambiguity in the Peace Process
• Charter Change remains NOT in the agenda in the
PNoy’s Administration;
• Re-drawing the ARMM geography continues to be a
passionate and volatile issue;
• Default mode for any agreement is through the
Congress of the Philippines, i.e., Enacting a new
Basic Law for NAPE that is substantially in
agreement with CAB and the Constitution;
• PNoy is strongly committed to the Constitution –
plebiscite and elections.

17. The Real Bottomline
• Poverty
• Politics of Exclusion
• Injustice – Real/Perceived
• Identity matters
• Strategic Resources
• War against Terror

18. End of presentation