No ‘pamasko’ offered to congressmen for approval of BBL – Aquino

There was no attempt to bribe lawmakers with government projects or money to ensure the timely passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), President Aquino declared on Friday.

The President insisted that he merely made an appeal to congressmen to pass the BBL without offering any “pamasko” to sway their vote.

“That has not been the style,” the President said during the Bulong Pulungan media forum held at Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City, in reaction

to allegations of bribery in his meeting with the lawmakers in Malacañang early this week.

“Ask anybody who was there. I never promised anything besides the appeal that in passage of the BBL, we do have a chance to change the narrative whereas not passing it continues the status quo. That was the central message. Nothing more to it, nothing less,” he said.

He said an opposition congressman even attested that he did not give any “pamasko” during the meeting in Malacañang. Aquino said he plans to give the lawmakers holiday greeting cards soon.

Last Tuesday, the President met more than a hundred congressmen in Malacañang to appeal onc again for the approval of the BBL. There were reports that the congressmen were offered 1.5 billion worth of projects.

Despite the President’s strong push for the BBL, lawmakers still failed to muster a quorum that day to resume deliberations on the measure in the House of Representatives.

The President earlier said he believes the approval of the BBL will be “inevitable” considering its importance to facilitating peace and development in Mindanao. Aquino said he hopes the BBL will be enacted within or even after his term.