Duterte to pursue approval of BBL

President Duterte is willing to exercise his residual powers if Congress fails to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by May to fulfill his commitment to the Bangsamoro people.

According to Peace Process Adviser Jesus Dureza, President Duterte promised to the leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Davao City last week that he would communicate with both houses in Congress the importance of passing the BBL.

But if the BBL would still not be passed, Dureza said that the President committed to exercise his residual prowers in order to fulfill the commitment.

"The President said he would assist even to the extent of relaying to both chambers of Congress his determination to help push for the passage of the BBL that is compliant with the comprehensive agreement of the Bangsamoro, and as close as possible, to the new draft law submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission," Dureza said.

"In the event [that] this does not take place in Congress, he said he would go to the extent of even exercising his residual powers through administrative directives to fulfill this commitment," he added.

Dureza added that during the meeting, both Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Senator Miguel Zubiri vowed to support the BBL and act on it before congress adjourns on May 15.