Duterte: There’ll be a Bangsamoro country during my term

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday vowed to establish a Bangsamoro country, as he received a document meant to pave the way for the Bangsamoro people's self-determination.

"I am for this—within the context of the Republic of the Philippines, there shall be a Bangsamoro country," Duterte announced during the formal turnover of the new Bangsamoro Basic Law draft in Malacañang.

Duterte also backed the document, which was handed to him by Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Ghadzali Jaafar.

"May I say to you, my brother Moros, that I commit to support – in front of everybody – my covenant with you that I will support and husband this instrument as it goes in the legislator for its consideration," he said.

“And there will be no objections of the provisions of all that is consistent with the Constitution and the aspiration of the Moro people,” he said.

Duterte also told reporters after the ceremony that he would certify the BBL as urgent.

“Yes, certify. And I have requested both the Senate President and the Speaker to consider it immediately,” he said.

He added he wanted results of the BBL within a year.

“It takes time but I will also try to hurry up so we’ll have something to show to the people at least before the year ends,” he said.

“There’ll be a lot of debates but we hope that everything will be—well—strengthened, especially those objectionable materials or the things that were in the previous laws. Titingnan natin. But I assure you, I said I’m committed to the na—to what we call the Bangsamoro nation,” he added.

During his speech, Duterte said that the new BBL would create a new autonomous region for the Bangsamoro people, in an effort to “end centuries of hatred, mistrust, and injustice,” while preserving the territorial integrity of the republic.

“The draft bill, jointly written by our Muslim, Christian, and Lumad brothers and sisters, shall give rise to a genuine autonomous region as well as bring forth healing and reconciliation to the historical injustices committed against the Bangsamoro people,” he said. — RSJ/NB, GMA News