Duterte rallies Congress leaders to pass BBL by end of May

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (left) takes a group photo after a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, with Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III. Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte (center back) chats with Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali. (Photo from Roque’s Facebook page)

President Rodrigo Duterte rallied Congress leaders on Tuesday to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and urged them to pass the long-pending measure by the end of May.

In a series of tweets, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte had discussed the urgency of BBL, noting that the Consultative Committee to Review the 1987 Constitution (Con-com) could provide a template for the law.

“We cannot fail on this [BBL]. The next generation is counting on us,” Roque posted on Facebook, quoting Duterte.

Roque was quoting Duterte’s statements at the joint command conference of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police at the Heroes’ Hall in Malacañang.

Duterte set the deadline of the passage of the BBL on May 30.

Several Congress leaders met with Duterte Tuesday night – namely, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III, and House Majority Floot Leader Rodolfo Fariñas.

Other lawmakers also present were Sens. Gregorio Honasan and Panfilo Lacson, Maguindanao Rep. Bai Sandra Sema, Lanao del Sur Rep. Mauyag “Jun” Papandayan, Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali, and Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr.

Duterte has been asking the Congress to pass the BBL, which he sees as the cure to the rise of extremism and terrorism. /atm

READ: Duterte sees passage of BBL, tagged cure for terror