Maybe next year…for BBL

Congress leaders have informed Malacañang that “efforts will be exerted” next year to pass the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a crucial component in government’s peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said yesterday.

“We are in close coordination with Congress to thresh out concerns about the proposed BBL. We have been informed by Congress leaders that efforts will be exerted to pass the BBL when Congress resumes its sessions in January,” Coloma said in a message to reporters.

Coloma was reacting to the assertion of opposition Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that Malacañang was to blame for the delay in the passage of the BBL.

Marcos said Malacañang was late in transmitting the proposed measure to Congress, and this was made worse by its many unconstitutional provisions.