Proposed Bangsamoro autonomy won’t be watered down—Palace

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — It’s likely Congress will tackle the draft law carving a new autonomous Bangsamoro region in southern Philippines in the next regular session.

President Benigno Aquino’s legal team has been vetting the draft Bangsamoro basic law (BBL) to ensure compliance with the Constitution a week before Congress’ adjournment sine die, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the legal team has been sifting through the document to ensure its compliance with the comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the 1987 Constitution.

“We are here to review that it complies with the provisions of the CAB (Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro). We are also making sure that this will stand judicial scrutiny,” he told reporters in a briefing.

Malacañng would like to ensure that “when it goes to Congress, it will be as smooth as possible,”  Lacierda said.

The President’s spokesman said he would inquire with the office of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. if the draft law could be sent to Congress by Wednesday next week, the last day of session before sine die adjournment.

Lacierda, however, assured that the draft BBL from the Office of the President would not be a “watered-down’’ version.

“We can assure Chair [Mohagher] Iqbal that the Bangsamoro Basic bill will reflect the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and its annexes,’’ he said.?

The draft BBL has been stuck at the Office of the President since it was submitted for review in mid-April by the Transition Commission. Originally, it was to be submitted when sessions resumed May 5.

Senator Francis Escudero said last week that the Senate should not be rushed into passing the draft BBL.

But if Malacañang submits it before Congress adjourns on June 13, the Senate is still on track of approving it by year-end, according to Escudero.

To fast-track its approval, Escudero proposed that a liaison be set up between Congress, on one hand, and the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and other stakeholders, on the other.

The idea, he said, would be to facilitate the exchanges of opinions and feedback between Congress and the other stakeholders, he said.

“What if there are changes that will improve the bill, and make it stronger? There should be a mechanism to get their opinions and feedback,’’ he said.

Escudero said the Senate would have one and a half months to review the draft BBL and hear out comments at the committee level before tackling the proposed 2015 national budget in October.

“We have enough time to do it. We can pass it by year-end,’’ he said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. predicted the draft BBL would be passed by year-end in time for its ratification in Bangsamoro areas.

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