Belmonte hoping law for Bangsamoro entity will need no Charter amendments

AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – His being the main proponent of Charter change does not mean Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. favors constitutional amendments following the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace pact.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net late Monday, Belmonte said he hoped the law that would need to be crafted to create the Bangsamoro entity be passed without amending the Constitution.

He made the statement after some solons raised constitutional amendments as a result of the sealed peace pact with the Moro group.

Majority floor leader Neptali Gonzales II, for one, said the Bangsamoro framework annexes discussed power sharing and territorial waters that were in the Constitution.

“I hope that all the provisions, of which we have not been provided yet, can be implemented without touching the Constitution,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte is the main proponent of amending the economic provisions of the Constitution to lift the limitations on foreign investment.

Asked why he does not favor constitutional amendments following the sealed pact when he promotes Charter change, Belmonte said he only focuses on the economic provisions.

“I’m only pushing for a limited amendment to the economic provisions… That’s all,” he added.

The Philippine government and the Moro secessionist group signed the last annex of the Bangsamoro framework agreement on Saturday, sealing the comprehensive peace pact in a bid to end the conflict in Mindanao.

The agreement would be the basis for the crafting of the Bangsamoro organic law that would create the Bangsamoro political entity and replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The law would need to be passed by Congress.

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