MANILA -- As the Philippines begins the work of creating a new Muslim autonomous government in the southern island of Mindanao in 2022, the peace process faces an uphill battle in the face of opposition from hardliners calling for outright independence.
The final of two rounds of voting was completed Wednesday, giving a rough outline of the region that will be included in the arrangement. In January, the current five provincial members of the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, plus Cotabato City, voted to participate in the new arrangement. This resulted in the so-called Bangsamoro Autonomous Region legally coming into existence.
