Independent bloc hits Palace for delay in passing Bangsamoro basic law

LEYTE Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (first district). CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The independent minority bloc in the House of Representatives blamed Malacañang for “derailing the peace process” as it stalls in passing the draft Bangsamoro basic law to Congress.

“My colleagues here will join me in saying if anybody is doing a great disservice to the peace process, it’s the Palace right now,” said Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who represents the independent minority bloc, in a press briefing on Tuesday.

“Because they have promised our Muslim brothers, the Bangsamoro, that we will have this done as soon as possible. Yet, we are hostage here eh,” he added.

Congress is awaiting the draft of the Bangsamoro basic law from the Office of the President. The law, which needed Congress’ nod, would implement the recently signed Bangsamoro deal that ended the decades-long secessionist movement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The Palace said it would submit the draft bill on May but it has yet to do so.

Time is also ticking for the bill as the House of Representatives is set to go on indefinite break on June 13 to mark the end of first regular session.

Romualdez said he felt sorry for Congress because they would be blamed in case the bill failed to pass as it is targeted this year.

“If we don’t pass it quickly, we’re the ones going to be blamed. And if we don’t study it properly, what can we do? We have to make sure that it is consistent with the Constitution, it has no legal infirmities,” Romualdez said.

“But if they pass us a half-baked draft bill, eh they are the ones derailing the peace process,” he added.
The recently signed Bangsamoro deal has earned criticisms for insulting the Constitution because it purportedly calls for amendments to the charter for it to be implemented.