Duterte’s BBL ready for submission to Congress

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte’s version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is ready for submission to Congress.

The 15-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission drafted the new enabling law.

“The Presidential Legislative Liaison Office will officially transmit the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law t o Congress t his week,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters at a briefing yesterday.

Abella announced this after former president and now Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Pampanga) filed a bill creating a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Arroyo said her own version “truly reflects the aspirations of our Muslim brothers and sisters, as well as the indigenous brethren, representation to indigenous peoples, women, the sultanates, and other key stakeholders.”

Under House Bill No. 6121, or the “Basic Act for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR),” the new region shall comprise:

* the present geographical area of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

* Cotabato and Isabela City in Basilan; and

* any province or city contiguous and outside the geographical area of the current ARMM where there is a local government unit resolution or a petition of at least 10 percent of the registered voters asking for their inclusion two months before the plebiscite of the Basic Law for the BAR and the process of delimitation of the Bangsamoro geographical area.

Abella said Malacañang was letting Congress handle Arroyo’s measure.

“We leave it to Congress to act on the matter with dispatch, including consolidating the Palace version with House Bill (No.) 6121,” he said./