Author: Nassef Manabilang Adiong

Nassef is the founder of Co-IRIS (International Relations and Islamic Studies Research Cohort), PHISO (Philippine International Studies Organization), DSRN (Decolonial Studies Research Network), and BRLN (Bangsamoro Research and Legal Network). He works on interdisciplinary research between Islam and International Relations and explores the Bangsamoro society as he heads the Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS) of the Bangsamoro Parliament. Visit https://nassef.info/ for more details.

Reviewed for “Politics and Religion” (Cambridge University Press)

Ref.:  Ms. No. PRJ-D-26-00117
Stations of the Soul: A Qur’anic Moral Psychology of States and the Transformation of International Order
Politics and Religion

Dear Dr. Adiong,

Thank You for your review of this manuscript. You can access your review comments and the decision letter (when available) by logging onto the Editorial Manager site at:

https://www.editorialmanager.com/prj/

Kind regards,

Sabri Ciftci, PhD
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Politics and Religion

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Reviewed for “International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies” (Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia or USM Press)

30-Jul-2026

Dear Adiong:

Thank you for reviewing manuscript # IJAPS/OA/03/2026-0093.R1 entitled “Moral Governance and Negotiating Democratic Authority in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” for the International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies.

On behalf of the Editors of the International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies, we appreciate the voluntary contribution that each reviewer gives to the Journal.  We thank you for your participation in the online review process and hope that we may call upon you again to review future manuscripts.

Sincerely,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Grace V. S. Chin
Editor in Chief, International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies
grace.chin@usm.my

Pre-Legislative Scrutiny on the proposed Bangsamoro Economic Zone Act of 2026

A key highlight of the roundtable was the presentation of the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) Report by Nassef Manabilang Adiong, Director of the Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS) of the Bangsamoro Parliament, which identified the proposed Bangsamoro Economic Zone Act as a strategically important measure for accelerating BARMM’s investment promotion, industrial development, halal industry expansion, logistics modernization, employment generation, and regional economic integration. While affirming the bill’s strong legal and policy foundation under the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the CREATE MORE framework, the report recommended targeted amendments to further strengthen the measure’s legal defensibility, institutional accountability, fiscal sustainability, environmental stewardship, and operational effectiveness.

Among its key recommendations were clarifying BEZA’s relationship with national government agencies on matters involving customs, immigration, quarantine, banking, foreign exchange, ports, shipping, taxation, security, and international commitments through appropriate intergovernmental mechanisms. The report also advocated stronger governance safeguards, including annual tax expenditure and performance reporting, fiscal risk management, procurement transparency, conflict-of-interest policies, audited financial statements, and measurable indicators to monitor investments generated, jobs created, exports, incentives granted, labor compliance, environmental performance, and benefits to host communities.