Creation of BARMM unlikely if not for Duterte, regional leaders sayCOTABATO CITY, Philippines — The creation last year of the Bangsamoro government would have been less likely without a president from Mindanao, regional officials said. Passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law faltered during the 16th Congress despite the endorsement of the Aquino administration. The BARMM is a product of 22 years of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. A peace agreement, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, was signed in 2014 but remained unimplemented pending passage of the BARMM charter. He was like a father who kept the peace among his children in those very challenging moments," Macacua said.

Source: Philippine Star January 14, 2020 02:26 UTC