PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE — AFP

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Thursday said he has signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Speaking in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, Mr. Duterte said in Visayans, “The BBL has been signed, but I’m still going back (to Davao City) because I have a ceremony with (Moro Islamic Liberation Front leaders Ghazali) Jaafar and (Al-Haj) Murad (Ebrahim).”
Mr. Duterte, however, was contradicted that afternoon by his spokesman, Harry L. Roque, Jr., and aide, Christopher T. Go., who both said the President has not yet signed the autonomy law creating the Bangsamoro Region in Mindanao.
“As of 5:43 p.m., BOL has not yet been signed by the President,” Mr. Roque said in a text message to reporters.
Mr. Duterte in his remarks also said: “And also I’d like to talk to (Moro National Liberation Front leader) Nur ([Misuari)], so that we can have it by the end of the year. I can create also just like an autonomy for him if that’s what he wants, and pending the federal system implementation he can just wait for it if he (Nur) trusts me.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

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