A PALACE official on Thursday said President Benigno Aquino III could not certify the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as urgent, amid calls from government peace negotiators and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to pass the measure before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders’ meeting in November.
Citing a statement from the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said Aquino could certify a measure urgent only if it was already approved in second reading.
“As to the Bangsamoro Basic Law, it is premature for both Houses to ask the President for a certification of urgency since it is still in the period of interpellation in both Houses,” Coloma told reporters.
When a measure is certified as urgent, both chambers of Congress can pass it subsequently on second and third and final reading in one day.
“Patungo na sila doon sa approval on second reading, at kapag naaprubahan na nila ‘yun dahil may certification of urgency, pwede silang dumiretso doon sa approval on third reading,” Coloma said.
BBL deliberations are still ongoing in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In a press conference on Wednesday, government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said BBL’s passage before the Apec meeting would send the message to world leaders that Philippine lawmakers were doing their part to address the peace situation on Mindanao.
“This is going to be our message to the Apec community that we will not squander a lost opportunity provided for by the passage of the law that will provide that kind of environment to really jumpstart peace, security and development in the region,” Ferrer said.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal also asked Aquino to certify the BBL as urgent.
READ: Gov’t peace panel urges House to pass BBL before Apec meet | MILF, hiniling kay Pnoy na gawing urgent bill ang BBL
BBL deliberations have taken a backseat as the House turned its focus on passing the proposed P3-billion national budget for 2016.