Hataman dismayed at stalled deliberations on BBL

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman on Monday said he felt dismayed that the House of Representatives wanted to suspend its deliberations on the Bangsamoro basic bill due to the Mamasapano clash.

Hataman, who went to the lower chamber Monday to submit the ARMM report on the incident, said Congress should continue its deliberations due to the limited time in passing the bill

“Honestly, hindi ko makita ang logic bakit kailangan mag-suspend samantalang alam naman natin na mahaba pa ang proseso,” Hataman told reporters.

“Kung sususpindehin natin, sayang ang oras at panahon kung saan tayo ay nagigipit,” he added.

He said Congress should continue its deliberations while authorities are investigating the incident, which left 44 members of the Special Action Force dead in a clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Two separate incidents naman ‘yun. Marami ka naman tatalakayin sa Bangsamoro bill habang pinagpapatuloy mo ang imbestigasyon. ‘Yung panahon natin, ipit na ipit na,” Rodriguez said.

Bangsamoro ad hoc committee chair Cagayan De Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez said as of 5 p.m. Monday the panel suspended indefinitely their hearings on the Bangsamoro bill, pending the House probe on the Mamasapano encounter.

He said the panel is only awaiting the incident report of the Philippine National Police after he received those from ARMM, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Rodriguez said if the original plan was followed, the panel would have already approved the draft bill in the committee level today (February 9) for plenary approval on February 16 and third reading in March.

“But March may be difficult to finish at this point in time. We do not set deadlines anymore. The Mamasapano incident is so grave,” Rodriguez said.

He said the panel finished deliberations on 95 percent of the bill excluding the four provisions —  national defense, security and public order provisions — over which discussions were suspended due to the Mamasapano incident.

“If we return we can safely say it will not take so much time because we already made discussions on 95 percent of the provisions… We’ve done quite our job. We’d like to congratulate  the committee,” Rodriguez said.

The passage of the Bangsamoro bill was stalled due to the involvement of its main benefactor, the MILF, in the attack downplayed by government as a misencounter with the Moro group.

The bill seeks to implement the government peace deal with MILF for the creation of a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro entity to replace the ARMM.