House panel removes titular head ‘wali’ in draft BBL

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law has thumbed down a motion by a lawmaker to reinstate the provision on the appointment of wali or titular head of the Bangsamoro under the draft law.

During the second day of voting on the draft BBL on Tuesday, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio noted the provision on the appointment of wali was removed in the “chair and vice chairpersons’ working draft,” the version of the proposed law being used by the committee in its voting.

Explaining the removal, committee chair and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the provision was unconstitutional as it was a characteristic of a substate.

He said there was no need for a ceremonial position.

“We can’t have something similar to a king or a queen,” Rodriguez said. “There’s no need for a wali with ceremonial functions.”

Tinio countered Rodriguez, saying the Bangsamoro should have a wali based on historical reasons.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong supported Tinio, adding having a wali would not make the Bangsamoro a royalty like the United Kingdom.

The motion to reinstate the position in the draft law was rejected, 22-15.

Under the House Bill No. 4994, the wali is “the titular head of Bangsamoro” and will “take on only ceremonial functions.”

The wali is under the supervision of the President and will have a term of six years after the first who will have a term of three years.

‘Unprecedented’ attendance

The second day of voting on the BBL started at around 10 a.m, with 43 lawmakers in attendance.

During his preliminary remarks, Rodriguez said the attendance of 91 lawmakers on Monday’s BBL hearing was “unprecedented.”

“Yesterday, in an unprecedented and historical attendance in any committee hearing, a total of 91 house members were present,” he said.

Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat, however, said that despite the high turnout of lawmakers, the maximum number of votes cast during the hearing reached only 57 to 58.

Draft law amendments

Lobregat, who proposed a number of amendments on Monday’s hearing but was shut down, was the first lawmaker who proposed a change in the draft law: An amendment on the provision pertaining to the exclusivity of public utility operation in the Bangsamoro. The motion lost, 10-32.

The first amendment carried on Tuesday’s hearing was from Rep. Nancy Catamco, transferring the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights as a power shared with the national government and not exclusive to the Bangsamoro government.

After Catamco’s amendment was carried, members of the Makabayan bloc were also able to put minor revisions in the draft law.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate’s motion to retain power over Bangsamoro settlements to the Bangsamoro government was adopted.

Zarate, along with Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, was able to score the majority vote on his motion to appoint two deputy chief ministers instead of one.

Tinio’s motion to adopt the original BBL draft provision pertaining to the Bangsamoro government powers was also approved by the body.

On the other hand, Lobregat was also able to score various amendments in Tuesday’s hearing such as the provision of salary grade laws to determine the salary of the chief minister, deputy ministers and members of the parliament and determining the older deputy minister to succeed as temporary chief minister in the case of the chief minister’s death or removal.

The house panel’s hearing on the BBL is said to last until 10 p.m.

As of 3 p.m, the body is tackling Article VIII (basic rights) or page 40 out of the 109 pages of the BBL draft.