On Supreme Court’s case vs BOL

Every citizen is free to resort to judicial processes to question the constitutionality of laws. The case filed against the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is not an exception.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission that drafted the BOL complied with President Duterte’s directive that it will comply with all previously signed agreements in step with constitutional and legal reforms.

I am confident that the BOL can withstand the constitutionality test. Both chambers of Congress, the Senate and the House and their legal minds painstakingly worked on the law. They scrutinised its fine points and fine-tuned them taking into account the landmark decisions of the Supreme Court and drew from the lessons of the past. There was also due diligence done by the legal minds of the executive department before the President affixed his signature to RA 11054.

Hence, I am confident this petition will not stop on its tracks a new beginning for the Bangsamoro. If at all, the most this latest challenge on the new law will do is to affirm its constitutionality with finality for the benefit of all Bangsamoro and all citizens as well.

Ultimately, we leave the final determination entirely in the hands of the Supreme Court.

Jesus G. Dureza

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process