The Bangsamoro Parliament, on January 28, 2026, approved the consolidated Parliament Bill Nos. 353 and 25, creating the Bangsamoro Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission and providing funds for its operations. (Photo courtesy of LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)
COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Parliament on Jan. 28 unanimously approved the Bangsamoro Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Act of 2026, a landmark law establishing a regional mechanism to address historical injustices, human rights violations, and marginalization caused by land dispossession.
The measure consolidated Parliament Bill Nos. 353 and 25 and was passed with 36 votes in favor, no votes against, and no abstentions.
Atty. Raissa Jajurie, Member of Parliament, said transitional justice and reconciliation have long been central to the peace agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“While we have long awaited the delivery of a comprehensive transitional justice and reconciliation program by the National Government, the Bangsamoro is now taking a step at the regional level,” Jajurie said.
She added that the passage of the law sends a clear message that the Bangsamoro Government is “serious and resolute” in pursuing transitional justice and reconciliation for the Bangsamoro people and other indigenous peoples.
The law establishes the Bangsamoro Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Program to be implemented by an independent Bangsamoro Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (BTJRC). The Commission is tasked with investigating and documenting massive and emblematic human rights violations from the American colonial period up to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
The commission will conduct fact-finding activities, public hearings, and community-based listening sessions with victims, families, and affected communities to establish an official historical record. It will also address historical land dispossession, including policies that transferred lands from Bangsamoro and other indigenous peoples to private individuals and corporations.
Also, the body is empowered to integrate transitional justice and Bangsamoro history into the regional education system, recommend legal action when warranted, and propose measures to prevent the recurrence of conflict. It will coordinate with Bangsamoro ministries, offices, and agencies (BMOAs), as well as relevant national agencies, to carry out its mandate.
BTJRC will be composed of a Chairperson and four regular members, all of whom must be descendants or spouses of native Bangsamoro inhabitants and possess at least ten years of experience in peacebuilding, human rights, or transitional justice. The law ensures sectoral representation, including women, non-Moro Indigenous Peoples, civil society, religious scholars, and residents of island provinces.
The Commission will operate for seven years, with a possible three-year extension, and enjoy fiscal autonomy, with an initial appropriation of ₱125 million. It is also mandated to provide mental health and psychosocial support to victims of armed conflict and submit annual and terminal reports to both the Bangsamoro Parliament and the Philippine Congress.
The new law, a priority measure of Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, fulfills a mandate under the BOL to address the root causes of conflict, promote accountability, and advance healing and lasting peace in the region. (Settie Jehana Baunto/BIO)
