Improving the Bangsamoro Basic Law

By Tony La Viña

Let me declare at the outset that I support the creation of a Bangsamoro autonomous region. Its establishment is certainly allowed by the 1987 Constitution. More fundamentally, a Bangsamoro government armed with real powers, making it superior to the current Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that is autonomous only in name, is a critical foundation to permanent peace in the island I was born and raised in. Being a long-time advocate of federalism and the parliamentary system of government, I am also glad that the Bangsamoro has features from these better modes of governance. Indeed, in many ways, the Philippines as a whole will benefit from the experience of the Bangsamoro.

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