Bangsamoro before federalism, assure Duteret
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte may issue an executive order to ensure that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is enacted before federalism is pursued, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza said on Wednesday, January 17.
Dureza, in a statement, said Duterte would have no choice but to use his executive power to ensure the immediate passage of BBL, which will abolish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and create a new entity for the Bangsamoro region for expanded powers.
“President Duterte said he would push for the passage of the Bangsamoro Bill and will even go to the extent of resorting to an executive issuance to hasten it if Congress itself fails to approve it,” he said.
“Stressing that he can use the inherent powers of the presidency, he is ready to carve out through an executive order the area for the Bangsamoro for their selfrule,” Dureza added.
This developed after Duterte met with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders led by Kagi Ibrahim Murad in Davao City last Monday, January 15.
Dureza said the President gave assurance that the draft Moro law would be enacted first before he will pursue the proposed federal type of government.
He said Duterte was committed to fulfilling his campaign promise to push for a new Bangsamoro entity under his leadership.
“The President met with the MILF leaders headed by Kagi Ibrahim Murad late afternoon Monday in Davao City as he reassured them that he would push for an early passage of the law for the Bangsamoro ahead of the shift to federalism,” he said.
“The President said that he gave this commitment even during his presidential campaign and would continue to push for it. He stressed that the approval of the BBL should come ahead of federalism,” he added.
On July 17, 2017, the Bangsamoro Transition Committee (BTC) submitted to Duterte a “better version” of the BBL.
The BTC had said the proposed law would be “more inclusive” as it “truly reflects the aspirations of our Muslim brothers and sisters.”
Congress have yet to act on the draft BBL, which was transmitted to them in August last year.
On Tuesday, January 17, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri assured that the Bangsamoro bill remains a priority measure in the Senate.
Zubiri, who also filed a BTC-approved version in the Senate on Tuesday, expressed hope that it will be passed in second and third reading by mid-March.
Dureza said the government welcomed Zubiri’s move to ensure the passage of the proposed BBL.
“We also welcome the action taken by Sen. Miguel Zubiri that the BTC’s bill that the President certified would be adopted as the working draft in next week’s resumption of the senate hearings,” Dureza said.
“We also welcome the Senator’s announcement that the Senate committee that he chairs is set to hold its initial round of BBL public hearings and consultations in various areas, especially in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao to hear the opinions and sentiments of the general public.” (SunStar Philippines)