Duterte wants to meet with Congress leaders on BBL fate —Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte has assured officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that the Bangsamoro Basic Law is still a priority bill in the Executive department, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

“PRRD assures MILF and the Moro people that BBL is an executive priority bill. PRRD met with leadership of MILF yesterday to discuss among others their concerns about the social media posts critical of their handling and the progress of the BBL bill,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a briefing on Monday.

“The President assures them that he considers him this as high priority and vital to the future of Mindanao and the nation. He is asking to meet with the Senate President and the Speaker of the House to facilitate the process,” he added.

Abella said Duterte also expressed gratitude to the MILF for fighting violent extremists in Mindanao alongside the government.

“He has cited the humanitarian efforts to save civilian lives in Marawi and the continuing operations of the MILF against armed groups and enemies of the state throughout Mindanao,” he said.

Duterte and the MILF leaders met in Malacañang on Monday night after the Moro leaders expressed frustration with the government’s noncompliance with past agreements and over the fate of BBL bill. —KG, GMA News