MILF rebels to form political party for self-rule in Philippines’ Muslim south

The Philippines' biggest Muslim rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), is set to form a political party to run the planned Bangsamoro autonomous region, effectively ending decades of conflict in the south.

President Benigno Aquino finally submitted to Congress yesterday a 122-page draft Bangsamoro Basic Law - the result of four years of hard negotiations between the rebels and his administration. Aquino urged Congress to quickly pass the legislation.

The timetable sees Congress enacting the law by the first quarter of 2015. The draft law proposes transitional administration by the rebel leaders, after which a parliament would be elected by all residents.

The parliament would elect from its ranks a chief minister to run the region and a wali, or eminent leader, to perform ceremonial functions.

Chief government negotiator Miriam Ferrer said yesterday: "We welcome the ongoing efforts of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to form a political party that would serve as their vehicle for effective participation in electoral politics and consequently assist in their transformation from combatants to full-time civilian life as active Filipino citizens in the Bangsamoro."

The United Nations office in Manila gave its backing to the draft law, saying "we celebrate this remarkable achievement ... The United Nations System stands ready to support (it)."

The UN backing effectively sidelines a separate rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front faction of Nur Misuari, who in 1996 signed a separate peace agreement with UN backing.