“Legislators expect the law to be challenged before the Supreme Court on mainly the portion that will allow the Bangsamoro region to expand indefinitely through the controversial opt-in provision.

The Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) should not be referred to as a legislation for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) but rather a historic victory for the Moro people of Mindanao.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law last Thursday after more than 20 years of hit-and-miss efforts on similar bills from previous regimes.

A clearer vision on what the people of Mindanao want, including Muslim Filipinos or the Moros under Rody’s guidance, had resulted in a law that legislators believe will pass the test of constitutionality and acceptability.

Rody said it perfectly in describing earlier the effort that he will put into the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the precursor of the BOL: “I will only work with one thing in mind: There must be one nation for all and one republic for all, a Republic of the Philippines for all of us, Moro and Christians alike.”

The law will render historical justice to the Moro people, Rody said.

The measure had eluded the peace agreement signed with the MILF due to demands of the rebel group to include provisions that will in effect create a sub-state that the Constitution does not allow.

Bangsamoro will be composed of the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) – Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

Also sought to be included are six municipalities of Lanao del Norte and 39 barangays of Cotabato, provided that the province and their municipalities, respectively, vote to join the region.

These areas previously voted to be included in the ARMM but their mother units or provinces voted against it.

Substantial provisions contained in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed between the administration of former President Noynoy Aquino and the MILF were deleted through Rody’s guidance at a pivotal meeting in Malacañang to give way to the BOL.

Still, legislators expect the law to be challenged before the Supreme Court on mainly the portion that will allow the Bangsamoro region to expand indefinitely through the controversial opt-in provision.

The opt-in clause allows areas adjacent to the autonomous region to join Bangsamoro with a petition of at least 10 percent of their voting residents.

“A positive sign is that the MILF sees Rody as a partner in pushing Bangsamoro autonomy.

Also expected to be challenged before the High Court is the parliamentary system for the Bangsamoro that exists separately from the unicameral set up of the national government.

Under its parliament, the Bangsamoro government will be headed by a chief minister and a ceremonial leader called a Wali.

The parliament will have 80 members, 50 percent party representatives, 40 percent district representatives and 10 percent sectoral representatives and two reserved seats for “non-Moro indigenous peoples and settler communities.”

As the country’s first president from Mindanao, Rody relentlessly pressed Congress to pass the law.

The law is also expected to pave the way for disarmament and the integration of the MILF into the Bangsamoro.

Rody’s ultimate goal would be to remove the hurdles to progress in Mindanao, where its great promises remain wrapped by abject poverty and continued bloodshed.

A more immediate goal would be to stem the spread of the Islamic State influence in the Muslim regions after the attack on Marawi City last year.

The five-month battle for control of Marawi City led to the destruction of the bustling Muslim center in Mindanao.

The next challenge for Rody is to rally support for the law among Muslim Filipinos who have to approve their province’s inclusion in the autonomous region through referendums.

A positive sign is that the MILF sees Rody as a partner in pushing Bangsamoro autonomy.

“Although we still have more challenges ahead we are confident that we can surpass the next challenges,” MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim said.

The difficult road to peace now seems easier to trek with the realization of the Bangsamoro law.

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