Congress keeps vow to pass BBL; Palace pleased

MANILA - Malacañang said it was pleased that both houses of Congress kept their commitments to approve their respective versions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before adjournment sine die.

"We're pleased that both houses passed the respective versions of the BBL. The certification was a signal that the President considers the BBL as absolutely indispensable in the search for peace in Mindanao," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said.

"We're pleased that both houses in Congress agreed to come up with a final version of the bill during the break. We're very pleased that they are aiming that the President can sign the final BBL on the day of the Sona itself," he added.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 30, voted 227-11-2 in favor of House Bill 6475, while the Senate voted 21-0 in favor of Senate Bill 1717 shortly after midnight Wednesday.

Both bills from the two chambers of Congress seek the establishment of a new autonomous region that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The proposed BBL also aims to establish a new Bangsamoro political entity, and provide for its

basic structure of government.

A bicameral conference committee will meet during recess to reconcile the conflicting provisions of the two bills and come up with a consolidated bill that would be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte in the morning of July 23.

The President is expected to approve the final bill before he delivers his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 23.

Roque said Duterte was optimistic that Congress would find a "common ground" to come up with an "acceptable" Moro law that could "withstand judicial scrutiny."

"I know there are respective versions that each sector is pushing but we need a version that is acceptable to all that will withstand the test of judicial scrutiny. Otherwise, we will not have the BBL," Roque said.

"I can only express the hope that there will be an agreement that will be acceptable to all," he added. Ruth Abbey Gita, SunStar Philippines