Duterte to certify BBL as urgent either Tuesday or Wednesday – Senate leaders

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III answers questions from the media during the Kapihan sa Senado on May 24. INQUIRER.NET / CATHY MIRANDA

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to certify as urgent the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) either Tuesday or Wednesday, Senate leaders revealed.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Duterte granted their request at a meeting with him late Monday after they vowed to pass the legislation in both houses of Congress and iron out conflicting provisions of the proposed measure in a bicameral conference committee.

“PRRD (Duterte’s initials) will send certification today or tomorrow after we promised him to pass it in both Houses then iron out the disagreeing provisions in (the bicameral) and ratify it before the Sona (State of the Nation Address) if necessary,” Sotto said.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also confirmed this.

“After the signing of the Ease of Doing Business we met with the congressmen and the President to discuss the BBL. We all agreed to pass our own versions of BBL then iron out the differences during the (bicameral). The President will release the certification as urgent today so we can pass it on 3rd reading tomorrow,” he said.

Both chambers of Congress have earlier asked Duterte to certify the proposed BBL as urgent so they could pass it on final reading before session adjourns sine die on June 1.  /kga