Nassef is the founder of PHISO (Philippine International Studies Organization), BRLN (Bangsamoro Research and Legal Network), DSRN (Decolonial Studies Research Network), and Co-IRIS (International Relations and Islamic Studies Research Cohort). He researches policy issues affecting the Bangsamoro society and explores decolonial knowledge sources of the global south as well as interdisciplinary study between Islam and International Relations.
Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS) facilitated the “Refining and Finalizing the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Service Act (BPSA) Writeshop” held last Dhu Al-Hijjah 29 to 3 Muharram 1446, corresponding to June 25 to 29, 2025, at the Richmonde Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City. The activity was conducted with the assistance of the Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA), a program dedicated to enhancing institutional development during the transitional phase of the Bangsamoro Government. This multi-day event served as a critical venue for legislative actors and technical experts to gather and contribute to the finalization of the BPSA.
The writeshop aimed to refine and finalize the draft Bangsamoro Parliamentary Service Act by thoroughly reviewing its content, addressing technical gaps, and ensuring that its provisions are consistent with the core values of autonomy, accountability, and moral governance as mandated by the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Participating teams engaged in in-depth policy discussions, clause-by-clause analysis, and alignment of institutional structures to support the unique parliamentary system of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The deliberations also emphasized the importance of merit-based appointments, professional development, and ethical standards in the creation of the Bangsamoro parliamentary bureaucracy.
Policy Research and Legal Services acknowledges the crucial support provided by SUBATRA in enabling legislative offices to pursue meaningful and responsive public service reforms. The writeshop underscores PRLS’s continuing commitment to providing technical and legal assistance to the Bangsamoro Parliament, particularly in the crafting of priority codes and laws that uphold transparency, institutional integrity, and inclusive governance within the Bangsamoro region.
Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS) facilitated the “Training on Conversion of Research into Public and Legislation” held last Dhu Al-Hijjah 19–23, 1446 | June 15–19, 2025 at Go Hotel Davao City. The training was conducted by the Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) and aimed to build the capacity of professionals in effectively translating research outputs into concrete legislative and policy instruments that support the region’s transition and development goals. The activity focused on strengthening the skills of those engaged in policy and legal work within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Throughout the five-day training, sessions covered key areas such as research utilization, legislative analysis, policy development frameworks, and strategies for advocacy. Emphasis was placed on aligning research with public needs and legislative priorities to ensure that data-driven evidence informs decision-making processes. Practical exercises, case studies, and structured group work helped deepen the understanding of the legislative process and improve the capacity to develop responsive and relevant policy proposals.
This initiative reflects the continued efforts of Policy Research and Legal Services to support knowledge-based governance through focused training and institutional development. By facilitating capacity-building activities like this, PRLS contributes to the creation of effective and evidence-informed public policies and legislation that serve the needs and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.
Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS), in collaboration with Subatra (Support to Bangsamoro Transition), participated in the “Process Flow and Policy Research and Legal Services Guidebook Writeshop” held on Shawwal 20–24, 1446 AH | April 19–23, 2025, at The Apo View Hotel in Davao City. The event gathered designated personnel to draft a standardized guidebook aimed at refining institutional workflows and enhancing operational procedures.
The five-day writeshop served as a platform to improve process flow, promote documentation best practices, and align operational strategies with organizational goals. A farewell celebration was also held in honor of Mr. Reginald Pastrana of Subatra, recognizing his contributions to the ongoing development of the Bangsamoro Transition. His presence and support during the event added depth to the collaborative effort.
Policy Research and Legal Services remains committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement through evidence-based policy formulation, structured coordination, and operational transparency. Initiatives like the writeshop not only strengthen internal systems but also build the capacity of staff to deliver timely, accurate, and efficient services. By engaging in structured documentation and workflow development, PRLS continues to ensure that its operations are aligned with institutional mandates and responsive to the evolving needs of the Bangsamoro Parliament.
With the purpose of ‘in aid of legislation,’ Dir. Dr Adiong’s research presentation focuses on two accounts: one is how Bangsamoro became an orientalist object targeted and subjected to Christian Filipino’s political elites’ ploy while the second is marked by political responses that the Muslim Moros partake in utilizing morality and decoloniality as their defensive neo-orientalist cards through a strategic regional legislation mechanism of their reputed autonomous parliament.
The research presentation, through conference network platforms, can shed light and provide legislative support to the following pending bills, namely, Bill no. 309 or protection of rights and welfare of community settlers, Bill no. 299 or Bangsamoro history towards autonomy museum, and Bill no. 31 or Bangsamoro Regional Institute for Higher Islamic Studies. It is without a doubt that this office supports Dir. Dr Adiong’s policy research endeavors in uplifting Bangsamoro lives through sound legislative advocacy by endorsing his request to participate in the Doha conference and gather data in aid of legislation.
Unbeknownst to a usual doxa rhetoric, Philippines is not a homogenous nation-state characterized by cultural or normative uniformity unlike their Asian counterparts of Malays, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Thai descents who shared similitude of cultural traits, physical attributes, or civilizational values. Filipinos are culturally diverse with more than 195 spoken languages, 182 ethnolinguistic communities, majority (or 86% of its demography) are affiliated with the Christian faith represented by various Catholic and Protestant groups while a significant Muslim population exists in Southern Philippines alongside indigenous peoples (IPs) who settled across the country (Ileto 2001). There is a deep sense of favoring colonial experiences by Filipinos living in urban cities such as in Metro Manila, Cebu, or Davao as they have embraced Christianity from Spain and emulated the educational system, form of government, and whiteness culture of the US (Curaming 2009; Perez 2023). This “coloniality of being,” palpable and arguably claimed to be unique by those Christian Filipino urban dwellers, is the one thing that many Muslim Filipinos—particularly the Moro peoples—and IPs been struggling to accept and thus hereby resent until today (Alegre 2015; Mendoza 2023; Valencia 2022).
Borne from its self-conscious social and Islamic identity as Bangsamoro, these communities are composed of 13 ethnolinguistic Muslim groups where Meranaw, Maguindanaon, and Tausug dominate the entire representation. A cultural collectivity resulting from a struggle for self-rule and self-determination is deeply rooted in the historicity of the Muslims in the Philippines. Creating and organizing political representation is an orientalist strategy by Christian Filipinos’ political elites to address the age-old “Moro Problem,” also known as the “Mindanao Problem” or “Mindanao Conflict,” and purportedly gain peace dividends and capitalistic development. But the Bangsamoro response upends a certain decolonial dive of morality in which they called it “moral governance,” a process that denotes a system of order that is values-based and Islamically rooted. Islamic ethical philosophy is foundational to the Bangsamoro leadership framework that encompasses five immutable principles: Faith, Freedom, Moral Authority, Common Good, and Social Ethics (Adiong 2021).
Aside from the morality card as a response to Christian Filipino’s orientalist views and portrayals of Muslims in the Bangsamoro, the decolonial card is another response stemming from addressing colonial historical injustices by carving its own political trajectory through autonomy and resisting the replication of colonial-based politics. The discussion focuses on two accounts, one is how Bangsamoro became an orientalist object targeted and subjected to Christian Filipino’s political elites’ ploy and the second one is marked by political responses that the Muslim Moros partake in utilizing morality and decoloniality as their defensive neo-orientalist cards. And one approach that the Bangsamoro used is through regional legislation of their own autonomous parliament.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the top six winners of the Legislative Writing Competition held in commemoration of the 6th Bangsamoro Foundation. Your essays were outstanding, demonstrating exceptional insight, critical analysis, and a deep understanding of legislative principles. We were particularly impressed by the clarity of your ideas, the depth of your research, and your ability to articulate meaningful solutions to complex issues. To those who did not win, we commend you for your excellent essays as well, which reflected creativity, passion, and a strong grasp of the topics at hand.
We express our sincere gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions, which highlight a shared commitment to legislative excellence and the advancement of the Bangsamoro region. Pagpalain, Bangsamoro!
Nassef Manabilang Adiong, PhD 
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