The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomes the holding of an historic plebiscite in Mindanao on 21 January 2019 to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) bill. The BOL was the result of decades of peace talks that culminated in a comprehensive agreement between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government in 2014.
In the plebiscite tomorrow, the people of Mindanao will have the opportunity to vote to establish a new regional government that will provide greater fiscal autonomy, a local parliament, and justice system.The plebiscite will be a landmark step in the long standing Peace Process in the Southern Philippines.
The OIC encourages the Moro leadership to unify their ranks and renew their commitmentto the cause of peace. The OIC further calls upon the leadership to work for the success of the plebiscite and implementation of the new regional government in Mindanao in fulfillment of the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.