Arroyo to withdraw Babar; support BTC’s BBL instead–Dureza

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza INQUIRER file photo

Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will withdraw her proposed bill on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) known as the Basic Act for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (Babar).

Peace adviser Jesus Dureza said Arroyo told him in a phone conversation that she would instead support the version of the BBL proposed by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), which was authored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

Dureza was with President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday during a meeting with officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and some officials of the BTC.

“During the meeting, former President Gloria Arroyo in a phone conversation with me and Kagi Murad, committed to support the BTC-drafted version that Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez authored. She said she would withdraw authorship of her previously signed bill to fast track the approval of the new version,” Dureza said.

Arroyo filed Babar or House Bill No. 6121 in August last year but the MILF opposed this, saying it was “disgusting in all aspects.” /jpv

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