No secret voting, House minority urges Ad Hoc Committee on BBL

The House Independent Bloc yesterday warned against secret voting on the Bangsamoro Basic Law by the 75-member Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL, saying this would only bring “uncertainties” and further dissuade public support for the proposed creation of the Bangsamoro juridical entity.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who leads the opposition bloc, said the voting on the controversial BBL should not be kept secret. He urged his colleagues to stick to the principles of transparency,

fairness, and accountability. He said the public deserves to know the sentiments of their respective representatives on the peace measure as the three-day panel voting on the BBL starts today, May 11.

“I appeal to my colleagues in the ad hoc panel to open to the public the voting process on the BBL for the sake of transparency. I feel that doing the voting in an executive session may bring uncertainties and further dissuade the public from supporting the BBL,” Romualdez, who is also president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), said.

Majority to decide

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez disclosed that he has been requested to have the voting in an executive session, but personally he wanted the voting process open to media. “I am for having it open, but I have to get the majority of the members. Kasi may nag-request talaga na i-close ito, i-executive session. So as chairman, I cannot just say no to that proposal. So therefore, it should be brought out (before the body),” he said in a radio interview.

He denied that there was a “marching order” to have the panel vote in an executive session.

“We will have three days of voting starting at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Monday) until Wednesday. We will vote section by section on all 244 sections of BBL. Tomorrow (Monday), we will first have an executive session to decide whether we conduct public or closed-door voting,” Rodriguez said in a separate interview.

“But, I assure you, we will really take into consideration the fact that there should be transparency. Maraming nagsasabi na i-executive session, but ultimately, it will be approved by the membership,” he added.

Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. is counting on the Rodriguez panel to pass the BBL on Wednesday.

“We expect the ad hoc panel to approve this very important legislation…. Lawmakers will pass the BBL because they believe that it will usher peace and progress in Mindanao to further help sustain the country’s economic growth,” he said.

Rodriguez expressed confidence that by Thursday, May 14, his panel’s report endorsing the plenary approval of the BBL will be signed and will be scheduled for plenary debate.

He said they are ready to defend the bill a the plenary session from the start of session at 4 p.m. up to even 12 midnight. “Without the questionable provisions, I think the BBL will pass. It is our best shot at peace in

Mindanao, and everyone of us is for bringing peace and development to Mindanao,” Rodriguez said.

By June 11

“We divided ourselves into three clusters. We will take turns in defending the bill in the plenary session ,” Rodriguez said. Expected to join Rodriguez in defending the bill are Deputy Speaker and Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong, Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal, Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong, North Cotabato Rep. Jesus Sacdalan, and Maguindanao Rep. Bai Sandra Sema.

“By June 11, the Senate and the House should have already approved the BBL and ready for President’s signature,” Rodriguez said.

He said Congress is ready to hold special session for the BBL approval should it fail to pass the measure on or before June 11.” The Senate agreed that by June 11, BBL should be passed by both houses. Napagusapan namin ni Senate President Franklin Drilon na we will hold a special session if we will not be able to finish this byJune 11,” Rodriguez said.

“We want to finish everything on June 30, by that time dapat approved na at signed na ni President ang BBL,” he said.

MILF appeal

As the proposed BBL enters a crucial phase today, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) appealed yesterday to legislators to undo the injustice against the Moro people.

Mohagher Iqbal, the MILF’s chief negotiator in the negotiations with the Philippine government, aired the appeal particularly to congressmen in Metro Manila.

Peace activists will converge at the House of Representatives in Quezon City today to rally support for the BBL’s passage. Mary Ann Arnado, who chairs the Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC), said thousands of participants from civil society, religious groups, professional organizations, and the women sector will join in the appeal.

Iqbal, also chairman of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) that drafted the BBL, said the BBL “for us, stops the injustice and gives back to the Bangsamoro their pride, self-esteem, and their God-given right to determine the way they want to live their lives.”

He told the congressmen during a May 7 hearing that “injustice to our identity, to our dignity as a person” is the true problem in Mindanao. “There was a time when Moros lived in peace and prosperity and were free to have big dreams and a time they were full of pride. That is not the case today. But it can change. We must change it. Help us change it,” he appealed. (With reports from Edd K. Usman and Francis T. Wakefield)