Cotabato solon to oppose BBL passage

KIDAPAWAN CITY – A North Cotabato solon will reject the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) during the plenary vote at the House of Representatives, opposing a provision that would mandate a plebiscite for the inclusion of a barangay or town should 10 percent of its inhabitants petition for its inclusion in the Bangsamoro territory.

Cotabato Rep. Jose ‘Ping-Ping’ Tejada, in an interview, said he will not change his position on the draft law unless the provision on the inclusion of a certain barangay or town on the plebiscite for Bangsamoro is amended.

The third district congressman had earlier voted ‘no’ during the deliberations of the draft at the ad hoc committee level on May 20.

He is opposed to Section 3, Article 3 of the draft BBL, particularly on the provision which states that an area in Mindanao can be included in the plebiscite even if only 10 percent of its population submits a petition for inclusion at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Why expand the Bangsamoro to other areas if it has not yet proven that growth and development can take place in that region? The Bangsamoro should concentrate first on developing its core territories before its expansion,” said Tejada.

Unless this provision in the draft BBL is amended at the plenary, Tejada said he will remain opposed to its passage.

Despite this, he said members of the minority group in the plenary will be actively participating in the deliberations and debate.

Tejada, a member of the minority, said important provisions in the draft which were not considered at the ad hoc committee level last month would again be pushed by the bloc.

But if the proposal becomes a law, Tejada would pushed that transparency and good governance should take place in Bangsamoro.

“I want the Bangsamoro to become first a pilot area of growth and development and be transparent in all its projects and programs,” he stressed.