By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

The Aquino administration reiterated its position the creation of the Bangsamoro would not entail amendments to the 1987 Constitution, a Palace official said Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the statement in a phone-patch interview in Malacañang Friday following reports some stated the need to amend the Constitution to create the Bangsamoro and to implement the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“I think what is very clear was the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement was signed within the flexibility of the Constitution. Ang paniniwala po natin that the Organic Act that will be drafted ay dadaan po sa Kongreso. Ang pananaw po ng ating pamahalaan ay kaya po natin gawin ang lahat ng ito within the framework of the 1987 Constitution,” he said.

“If you look at the time table that was presented by Dean Marvic Leonen and the infographics that was provided by the PCDSPO (Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office), you will see that all these things will be done before 2016. So by 2016, election will be held na po,” he said

Lacierda said according to government chief negotiator Leonen the law that woud create Bangsamoro would not entail amendments to the Constitution contrary to the claims of some people.

“These are cleary how we envisioned the framework agreement and the annexes will be discussed next month,” Lacierda said.

President Benigno S. Aquino III said the government is looking at an organic act by 2015 that will create a new autonomous region in Mindanao to achieve a lasting peace in the region.

During the forum at Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney in Australia, the President said his administration has set a very tight deadline to realize the new autonomous entity in Mindanao.

The organic act must be enacted into law by 2015, the President said, noting that the draft will come from the Bangsamoro.

This has to pass Congress and approved by the people in a plebiscite.

The Chief Executive said he hopes to install the new government with a mandate after the 2016 elections.

He also foresees an interim authority governing from 2015 to 2016.

To achieve lasting regional peace, the President acknowledged the need for a thorough political reform in Mindanao particularly in the autonomous area.

There are proposals for the inclusion in the new organic act of the designation of a chief minister who will be responsible to a committee composed of several stakeholders in the region.

This will serve as an automatic check and balance to prevent abuse of power of the governing officials, the President said.