AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—A Mindanao lawmaker accused two unnamed congressmen of riding on the proposal to suspend the Bangsamoro basic bill hearings just so they could take a vacation from their legislative duties.
In a press conference Wednesday, Davao Del Norte Representative Anthony Del Rosario lamented the way the two congressmen campaigned for the resolution sponsored by the minority bloc asking for a suspension on the Bangsamoro bill hearings.
“There were two congressman who approached me and said ‘Anthony, pirma kayo rito, magbakasyon naman tayo, magpahinga na lang tayo then balik na lang (sign here, let’s take a vacation, let’s just take some rest then come back) pag nagresume (Congress). Why will you sign based on that?” Del Rosario said.
The minority bloc initiated the resolution calling for the suspension of the Bangsamoro bill hearings as it pushed for the resumption of the House investigation on the Mamasapano debacle that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, 18 MILF fighters and five civilians dead.
The ad hoc Bangsamoro committee was set to meet during the Holy Week break to conduct executive sessions on the security and defense provisions discussions of which were suspended due to the Mamasapano debacle.
Del Rosario refused to name the two congressmen, but criticized them of resorting to dirty tactics to suspend the Bangsamoro bill hearings.
“When they were asking for signatures, hindi naman nila sinasabing, ‘Huwag na (they’re not saying, ‘Don’t conduct) magBangsamoro hearing. Ang sinasabi nila, ‘magbakasyon na lang tayo.’ Pirma kayo rito (What they’re saying is, ‘let’s take a vacation. Sign here), that’s how they were campaigning . Yan ba ang tamang pagkampanya? (Is that the right way to campaign?)” Del Rosario said.
The minority bloc was able to get the support of at least 50 members of the 98-strong committee to suspend the Bangsamoro bill, which seeks to implement the government peace deal with MILF for the creation of a Bangsamoro entity.
Congress lost support for the Bangsamoro bill because of the involvement of the MILF in the botched antiterror raid that resulted in government’s heaviest single loss combat.
Congress seeks to pass the bill by June for the President’s signature on June 30.
RELATED STORY
Minority bloc gets committee support to postpone Bangsamoro law hearing