Senate adopts House version on BBL territory
President Duterte is expected to sign the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) days before he delivers his third State of the Nation Address on July 23 after convincing Congress leaders on Wednesday to agree on the contentious provisions of the proposed measure.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque tweeted that the “impasse on the BBL provision on territory” had been “resolved.”
“[The] President facilitated the passage of the BBL by convincing the two houses of Congress to adopt the House version of the BBL…” Roque said.
Congressmen in the bicameral conference committee, tasked to reconcile the Senate and the House versions of the BBL, had proposed that local government units may only join the Bangsamoro only if their mother province or town votes in favor of inclusion in the region.
Moro leaders preferred the Senate version’s “opt-in” proposal that would allow 39 villages in North Cotabato and six towns in Lanao del Norte to join the envisioned Bangsamoro region following a plebiscite.
‘Mother territory’
Roque said these areas might now “vote to join the BBL territory in a referendum to be conducted on the mother territory of the areas involved.”
“With the President’s intervention, citing constitutional provisions and the decision of the Supreme Court … the passage of the BBL has been assured,” he added.
Senate and House leaders had earlier said they would refer the dispute on the Bangsamoro territory to Mr. Duterte as the final decision could face a stiff challenge in the Supreme Court.
Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo said his main concern was the accessibility of officials like him should there be Bangsamoro areas within his mostly Christian province.
Security concerns had been raised should the towns and barangays be unable to join the Bangsamoro under the House version of the BBL.
Decommissioning
Algamar Latiph of Bangsamoro Insider Mediators’ Group said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters in these areas might not undergo the decommissioning process and lay down their arms if their territories were not included in the Bangsamoro.
The bicameral committee also removed the provision list- ing the concurrent powers of the Bangsamoro government and the national government because it could give rise to “confusion, delay and conflict” on whose decision would prevail on certain matters, said Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.
Also on Wednesday, a group of retired senior military and police officials launched the Advocates for National Interests, which called on Congress to ensure a “constitutional” BBL.