President Duterte strikes a pose with MILF leaders holding a copy of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in a gesture of complete support for the bill’s passage. INQUIRER FILE / JOAN BONDOC
The 1987 Constitution will remain to be the basis of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) despite the ongoing efforts to change the Charter for federalism, a lawmaker said Thursday.
Zamboanga Sibugay 1st District Rep. Wilter Wee “Sharky” Palma II said congressmen would continue working on the proposed special measure even if Congress moved to amend the Charter.
Palma chairs the House joint subcommittee on local government, committee on Muslim affairs, and the special committee on peace, reconciliation and unity.
“The BBL that we’re discussing… is (based on) the 1987 Constitution,” Palma said in a chance interview at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.
“Until such time na mapalitan ang (that we amend the) Constitution, we will base everything on the 1987 Constitution. What if hindi mapalitan yung 1987 constitution?” he added.
“We will cross the bridge when we get there,” he said.
Palma said that if Congress passed the BBL then successfully amended the Charter, the BBL could be amended to coincide with the new Constitution.
Malacañang earlier said that President Rodrigo Duterte wanted the Congress to pass the BBL before lawmakers start amending the Constitution because it would be a challenge to implement the law.
“The President wants to enact BBL first. In his words, ‘mahirap na kung magsimula ang Charter change para mapatupad pa iyong BBL,’” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing on Monday.
Congress eyes to change the Constitution within the next four months so the referendum would be held simultaneously with the barangay elections in May.
Palma said that the subcommittee would try to finish the hearing this week so the mother committee could start discussing the measure. /cbb