Marcos: Senate to be more thorough, won’t railroad passage of BBL

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the Senate would not railroad the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Marcos, chair of the Senate committee on local government, told Radyo Inquirer 990 AM in an interview that he does not feel any “pressure” to rush the BBL to meet the June 11 deadline.

According to him, his fellow senators are “very independent minded” despite reports that lawmakers at the House of Representatives are being pressured by Malacañang to pass the BBL version close to the proposal submitted by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The senator said the Senate committee on local government would carefully study the provisions and possible amendments of the BBL, which may be riddled with unconstitutional provisions.

“Mas magiging mabusisi ang magiging pag-amyenda ng Senado (Senate will be more thorough in making amendments), at least sa committee level,” he said.

He said his committee has two remaining hearings before it could write its version of the BBL and be presented for deliberation before the Senate committee on local government.

The senator noted that the House version of the BBL is almost similar to the one proposed by Malacañang.

He, however, assured that the Senate would study possible amendments once their remaining hearings are finished.

On Tuesday night, the House of Representatives finished its marathon hearing that lasted for 13 hours and would convene this Wednesday so that its committee members could vote yes or no to the proposed law.

RELATED STORIES

Senator Marcos: Peace council report shows need to amend draft BBL

Distrust in BBL building–Marcos