MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives apparently would not rest until the Bangsamoro basic bill (BBL) is passed by June.
The ad hoc Bangsamoro committee has informed resource persons about its executive sessions on the security provisions of the Bangsamoro basic bill during the break from April 6 to 16 at the Nograles Hall.
Panel chair Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez invited Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Philippine National Police officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Benjamin Magalong, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Catapang.
They are invited on the first day of the executive sessions “to share their inputs, comments and suggestions with respect to provisions on national defense and security; the provisions on public order and safety; the establishment of the Bangsamoro police; powers of the Chief Minister on the Bangsamoro police; the operation of the Armed Forces in the Bangsamoro area; and on the normalization or decommissioning agreement,” according to the letter signed by Rodriguez.
The committee is set to fast track its passage of the bill after discussions on the security provisions were suspended in the aftermath of the botched Mamasapano attack that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and five civilians dead.
The panel is eyeing committee passage of the bill on April 16.
The committee has also asked the resource persons to submit their respective position papers on or before March 31.
Congressional support for the passage of the bill has diminished due to the involvement of the MILF in the attack, the main benefactor of the bill that seeks to implement the government deal with the MILF to create a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro entity.
Rodriguez earlier said the House may pass the bill in the plenary by June for the president’s approval on June 30.