Bangsamoro Transition Authority members to take oath before Duterte

Members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) are set to take their oath of office before President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday in Malacañang.

The Palace said Wednesday that Duterte will be leading the oath-taking ceremony and the “ceremonial confirmation” of the canvass results of the January 21 and February 6 plebiscite on Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Malacañang has yet to release the names of the 80 members of the BTA that will govern the new Bangsamoro region until elections in 2022.

BTA members, including the chief minister, will be appointed by Duterte.

On the other hand, incumbent officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will automatically secure BTA membership until their term expires on June 30, 2019. The ARMM is currently led by Governor Mujiv Hataman.

Duterte earlier lauded the ratification of the BOL, which is a product of the peace deal inked by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Two rounds of plebiscite were held for the ratification of the BOL and proposed inclusion of some areas in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte to the envisioned Bangsamoro entity that will replace the ARMM.

Plebiscite results showed the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will be composed of the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi as well as Marawi City, Lamitan City, Cotabato City and 63 villages in North Cotabato.

Under the law, the new region will enjoy  expanded land and water jurisdiction, fiscal autonomy, increased share in national government resources, among others. —LBG, GMA News