MANILA -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday hailed the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) as a "landmark achievement on the road to lasting peace in Southern Philippines."
"The United Nations will continue to support the Philippines in the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), and to help build the capacity of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to achieve peace, democratic governance, and respect for human rights," he said in a statement, which was read by UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in New York.
The UN chief also congratulated the Philippine government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, as well as the civil societies and local communities involved in the push to create the new autonomous political entity in Mindanao.
The successful January 21 and February 6 plebiscites for the BOL have effectively ratified the establishment of the Bangsamaro government, the transition of which is to be supervised by the BTA, in 2022.
On Friday, the members of the BTA took their oath before President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañan Palace. (PNA)
