Committee vote on BBL begins Monday in House

MANILA, Philippines–The ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will begin voting at 1:30 p.m. Monday behind closed doors and away from the prying eyes of the media on the 98-page document being pushed by Malacañang and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, committee chair, said he expected the 75 members of the panel to discuss the proposed amendments to 60 of the 221 sections of the draft BBL, with the remaining sections to be retained in full.

“We expect the voting to last at least two days because we cannot impose a strictly yes or no vote. The members will want to explain their vote per section,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said the committee has decided to conduct the voting in executive session as requested by the majority of the members.

“If it was only up to me, I’d rather have it open to the public,” said Rodriguez in a radio interview.

The committee conducted 48 hearings on the BBL, most of which were open to the public.

Some members fear that opening up Monday’s hearing to live media coverage would only encourage members to grandstand and delay the vote.

Rodriguez said he expected the committee to pass the BBL this week and submit it for plenary voting next week. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has committed to pass the BBL in the House by June before Congress adjourns.

Rodriguez has cited at least eight amendments to the draft BBL to ensure that it will conform to the Constitution.