BBL deliberations in jeopardy; solons want resumption of Mamasapano inquiry

The resumption of congressional deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has drawn strong opposition in the House of Representatives, with over half of the total members of the Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL rejecting the move initiated by the chamber’s leadership.

Airing protest over the suspension of the Mamasapano probe, at least 130 congressmen representing the House majority and the minority blocs signed a letter urging Speaker Feliciano Belmonte to make good his pledge to lift the suspension of the inquiry until the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry has submitted its report.

At least 40 of the 75 members of the panel have signed a resolution demanding resumption of the House inquiry on the Mamasapano incident, adding that they want the chamber to conclude the investigation before the BBL could be taken up again, it was revealed.

However, there appears to be little hope left for the House leadership to give the go signal for the resumption of the Mamasapano inquiry with the chamber adjourning today for a 45-day break.

At least 40 congressmen belonging to the BBL ad hoc panel have signed a resolution airing their opposition to the April 6 resumption of committee deliberations on the controversial administration measure.

Yacap Partylist Rep. Carol Jane Lopez and Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat, both members of the adhoc panel, have initiated the petition that allegedly enjoined Rodriguez to refrain from calling for a resumption of the committee deliberations.

With more committee members expected to sign the resolution before yesterday’s session, the scheduled resumption of the BBL deliberations is in jeopardy, Abakada Partylist Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz disclosed during yesterday’s press conference by the House independent minority bloc.

“We do not know how Congressman Rodriguez will hold the committee proceedings with about 50 of its members refusing to cooperate,” De la Cruz said. “He (Rodriguez) can proceed but with majority of committee members refusing to acknowledge the hearing, this cannot be recognized as a committee hearing,” stated De la Cruz.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the ad hoc panel, had set the resumption of the BBL hearings on April 6, with the House leadership worrying about the delay in the passage of the measure.

It will be recalled that Rodriguez agreed to suspend committee hearings last hearings last February to give way to the Mamasapano probe then being conducted jointly by the House Committees on Public Order and Security and on Peace and Reconciliation.

Reps. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Lakas-CMD, Leyte) and Lito ATienza ( Buhay Partylist) underscored the importance of the House findings on its Mamasapano inquiry, saying that this will allow lawmakers to arrive at a correct decision in considering rejection or approval of the BBL.