Ad hoc panel to enhance, not dilute BBL provisions to fit Constitution

The chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) assured the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday that despite his panel’s decision to scrap the unconstitutional provisions, it will not in any way water down the peace measure and that political and fiscal autonomy of the proposed Bangsamoro juridical entity “remains very much intact.”

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez made the assurance as MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal expressed openness to revisions in the BBL as long as it would not dilute

the proposed law.

“I laud MILF chair Iqbal’s statement that the MILF will accept amendments to the BBL bill. It is already a good right step of the MILF to be able to accept the fact that indeed there will be revisions to the BBL. I assure Iqbal that the scrapping of the unconstitutional provisions in the BBL will not dilute the bill, or water down the bill, but will enhance it, to meet the constitutional scrutiny, especially since it is expected that this bill, once approved into law will be questioned before the SC,” he told the Manila Bulletin in a phone interview.

He noted that “this is the first time” that the MILF gave in to Congress’ move to amend the BBL.

Iqbal expressed hope that Congress will not dilute the BBL.

Fiscal, political autonomy intact

The passage of the peace measure was derailed last month following the tragic death of 44 elite police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

Rodriguez whose panel will resume deliberations on the BBL on April 20 maintained that despite the deletion of seven provisions, the powers of the Bangsamoro government and its fiscal autonomy are intact under the amended House Bill 4994.

“We would like to assure the MILF that the substance of the BBL, which are under Article 5 on the powers of the government and under Article 12 on fiscal autonomy will remain very much intact,” he said.

But the Adhoc Committee is sticking to its decision to scrap the unconstitutional provisions in the peace measure that would remove the powers of six government agencies – the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Commission on Audit (COA), the Office of the Ombudsman, the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Human Rights ( CHR), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Bangsamoro territory.

He reiterated that the six unconstitutional provisions and the legal provision allowing other areas outside the Bangsamoro territory to join the entity upon a petition of at least 10 percent of the constituents will be scrapped.

“It will not in any way hinder their fiscal and political autonomy,” Rodriguez assured.

The resumption of the probe on the Mamasapano carnage on April 7 and 8 has pushed the discussion on the BBL to April 20 to 30 from April 6 to 16.

Rodriguez assured they will put House Bill 4994 under scrutiny to ensure that all illegal provisions are weeded out.

“We will not approve a BBL that would violate the Constitution,” he assured.

The panel is set to put to vote the proposed creation of the Bangsamoro juridical entity on May 11 and 12.

Congress is seeking to pass the BBL on or before June 11. (Charissa M. Luci)