Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research Ernesto C. Abella expressed the significance of protecting the people’s right to freedom of religion and belief as a core principle of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in his remarks at the 1st Ministerial Forum to Advance Religious Freedom in Washington D.C. last week.

“One of the important objectives of this roadmap is the passage of the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which we believe is key to bringing genuine peace, economic progress and inclusive growth in Mindanao,” said Abella, who represented DFA Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano.

The recently approved BOL seeks to establish a political entity called the Bangsamoro.

Among the salient features of the law are the implementation of Shari’ah law to cases involving Muslims, the 75-to-25 wealth-sharing term in favor of the Bangsamoro and the annual block grant of 5 percent in the net national internal revenue.

“This is a recognition of the justness and legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people and aspiration of Muslim Filipinos, and all indigenous cultural communities in the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao,” the Undersecretary said.