House still upbeat on BBL passage

In spite of delays and reservations by a growing number of lawmakers, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. remains upbeat about the chances of passing a proposed law creating a new Bangsamoro region in Mindanao by the June 11 deadline.

On Thursday, a bloc of party-list representatives belonging to the majority coalition at the House of Representatives said they were reserving judgment on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

“As such, we have decided not to decide on the sole basis that we belong to the majority coalition,” said Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, who spoke for the group.

He said the bloc would decide “based on a well-informed and prudent exercise of discretion with no master but our conscience and the interests of our constituents.”

“We shall probe, analyze, and dissect the BBL so we will be able to understand the measure better and come up with an objective, balanced and fair decision,” he said.

Belmonte said there had been no change in the timeline for the BBL passage on June 11, when Congress adjourns sine die.

The House on Wednesday postponed the delivery of the sponsorship speech for BBL by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who chaired the 75-member panel that deliberated on the lower chamber’s version of the bill.

In a text message, Belmonte said the one-week postponement was only “to give sponsors a chance to prepare.”

In a separate interview with reporters on Wednesday night, the House leader said passing the BBL was still “doable” at the House, but admitted he could not say the same for the Senate.

At least 12 senators have signed a report recommending amendments to the BBL so it could withstand constitutional challenges before the Supreme Court.

“Well, you know, we have our own thing [at the House]. We’re going to stick to our own thing. Let them stick to theirs,” Belmonte said, referring to the Senate.

The House leadership pushed back the schedule of the BBL to next week, giving the chamber only a tiny window of time to pass the bill.

Rodriguez earlier appealed to House leaders to approve his proposal of allowing marathon hearings on the BBL so that they could finish the plenary debates by June 11.–With Erika Sauler