Senator Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Senate President Franklin Drilon is no longer certain that the Senate could still pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before Congress adjourns it session on June 11.
“Sisikapin po natin, pero hindi po tayo nakakasiguro na maipapasa ito sa plenary by June 11, dahilan po sa ngayon ay mayroong pang hearing si Senator Marcos by June 1,” Drilon said in an interview over DZRH on Wednesday, referring to Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who is presiding over the BBL hearings as chairman of the Senate committee on local government.
(We will try but we are not sure if we can pass it in the plenary by June 11 because Senator Marcos still has a hearing by June 1.)
“So sana po maisumite po iyan sa lalong madaling panahon at matapos ang hearing at ang committee report, para may pagkakataon ang mga senador na pagaralan ang committee report and kung ano ang mga proposed amendments ng committee on local government,” Drilon said.
(So I hope [the committee report] will be submitted as soon as possible to give the senators time to study it and propose amendments on the report)
The Senate leader is confident that the majority of senators will support the BBL as long as it is in accordance with the Constitution.
READ: Drilon: Senate to make BBL constitutional
“Ang majority po ay susuporta basta ang paghain ng BBL ay wala pong labag sa ating Saligang Batas at sang-ayon sa mga prinsipyo ng sovereignty ng ating bansa at kung hindi po tayo magkakawatak-watak dahil sa BBL. May suporta po ang BBL sa Senado,” he said.
(The majority will support the BBL as long as it will not violate our Constitution, it will follow the country’s principles on sovereignty, and it will not divide us. The BBL may gain the support of the Senate.)
While grateful of President Benigno Aquino III’s offer to discuss with senators their reservations on the BBL, Drilon said there was no need for it now, confident that they could solve it on their own.
READ: Aquino open to dialogue with senators on BBL
“Ngunit kung sa tingin natin ay kailangan natin ng tulong ng Pangulo, ako po mismo ay siguro hihingi ng tulong sa pinakamataas na lider ng ating bansa, na makipagpulong sa mga senador at makita natin kung ano ang common ground,” he said.
(But if we think we need the President’s help, I, myself will ask the highest leader of our country to meet with the senators to find a common ground.)
He said that he also does not see anything wrong with senators meeting with Aquino as long as it would benefit the people. IDL
Read: Senators split on Aquino’s offer to discuss BBL