Zubiri vows to hold ‘marathon hearings’ for BBL

The Senate opened on Wednesday its very first public hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) with a promise from Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri to have it ready for plenary consideration in the chamber by March 2018.

As chairman of the Senate subcommittee on BBL, Zubiri vowed to hold “marathon hearings” starting January to ensure the immediate passage of the measure.

Photo by INQUIRER.net/RYAN LEAGOGO

“As a Minadanaoan, I promise you, ladies and gentlemen, that I will give it my utmost priority the passage of this measure,” he said in his opening statement during the hearing.

“I will try my best — I’m not a constitutionalist, I’m not a lawyer but my heart as a Mindanaoan is with you 100 percent. and I guarantee you that we will try to come up with a Bangsamoro Basic Law that would be ready by plenary hopefully by March.”

“We’re going to do marathon hearings all the way (up to) the first quarter of 2018,” Zubiri added.

Among those present in the hearing include Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Secretary Jesus Dureza, as well as other resource persons from the military and other agencies and offices of government involved in the crafting of the measure.    /kga