Zubiri: Senate is on track with BBL passage

The Senate is on track with the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday, vowing to approve the long-overdue measure within the day.

Zubiri, chair of the Senate subcommittee on the BBL, said senators are racing against time to pass the BBL, which was certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday.

“We are on track with the BBL. These past two days and nights disproved the disbelievers that the Senate can hack it. At this time, the landmark measure is being forged by Senators across party lines,” Zubiri said in a statement.

“The Committee Report which was drawn mainly from the work of the BTC (Bangsamoro Transition Commission)  is being rewritten by Senators who hold their legal torches aloft on their own,” he added.

Zubiri said senators would tackle fiscal autonomy and find out ways to pump up the future Bangsamoro government’s ability to “rebuild communities ravaged by war and neglect.”

“We expect proposals to increase provisions that will ensure transparency and public accountability. Sen. Recto promised questions and proposals in all of the 18 chapters,” he said.

Zubiri said during the deliberations on Tuesday night, senators tackled the Bangsamoro police, which would remain part of the Philippine National Police with recruitment and promotions following what is nationally implemented.

“Military, national and Bangsamoro defense were also made more explicit,” Zubiri said.

Bangsamoro territory was also amended to a territorial jurisdiction, the senator said, adding all provisions referencing Bangsamoro to a sub-state status “has been disposed of to clarify that the BBL is about an autonomous region like any other.”

“If last night is indicative of how things will be today, then I think the BBL will be a better document coming out of the Plenary than when it first landed in the Senate,” Zubiri said.   /muf