‘Bangsamoro state could be model for federalism’

Two former members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission said on Monday that the Bangsamoro region to be put up under the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) could be a model for federalism that the country could learn from.

Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and Florangel Rosario Braid said charter change for a shift to federalism could be postponed for five or 10 years while the country was studying the experience of the Bangsamoro region.

Davide and Braid spoke at the resumption of the public hearing on the proposed BBL by a subcommittee of the Senate committee on local government chaired by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Davide said he favored the approval of the proposed BBL ahead of Congress’ move to push charter change.

He expressed hopes that President Duterte would certify the proposed BBL as urgent. “Without it, we will have another Marawi war,” he said.

Braid agreed with Davide that the Bangsamoro state could be a template for federalism. She said a five-year postponement would give the country the opportunity to learn from BBL’s implementation.