Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will not be “untouched” as it goes through the senators, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Thursday.
In an interview, Drilon said they would make sure that any Bangsamoro law passed would be constitutional.
“We will examine it closely and modify the provisions which we believe are not consistent with the Constitution,” Drilon said.
“It will not be passed untouched. And I think that the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) recognizes that,” he added.
Also, the Senate president said that instead of the original target of March, the chamber might pass the bill in June because of time constraints.
The MILF and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP) insist that the proposed BBL is constitutional. Nonetheless, Drilon said Congress would scrutinize it to make sure it was in accordance to the Constitution.
“We are elected representatives of the people. We are independent of the OPAPP,” he said.
Not ‘enemies of peace’
Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito protested the remark of President Benigno Aquino III that those opposing the BBL were “enemies of peace” in Mindanao.
Mr. Aquino spoke during the 29th anniversary of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution on Wednesday.
“It is unfortunate that the President no less wanted us to swallow that the peace effort in Mindanao and the proposed Basic Bangsamoro Law are one and the same, because they are not!” Ejercito said in a statement.
“The peace effort and the BBL are two different subjects. There is no proof that after the passage of BBL, we would attain lasting peace in Mindanao,” the senator said.
Ejercito said he was for peace not only with the MILF but also with the Moro National Liberation Front, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the New People’s Army.
But this “peace should be based on justice and coherent with the 1987 Constitution,” the senator stressed.
“I initially supported BBL with closed eyes to give our President full trust and confidence in our common desire for peace. But the Mamasapano massacre woke up the entire nation,” he said. “People, especially in Mindanao, are telling us to be very careful in railroading the BBL’s passage.”
Ejercito said, “The SAF 44, who were massacred by 800 MILF members, did not die in vain. They provided us the light to serve and protect the foundation of the 1987 Constitution and the one Republic of the Philippines.”
While he already withdrew support for the BBL, Ejercito said he was still open to its passage “provided that all component and provisions stipulated should adhere to the 1987 Constitution.”
“If the Aquino administration failed to have it during its term, we can continue the effort with the next Philippine president,” he said.