Pacquiao on BBL: No comment

Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, asked about his views on the stalled Bangsamoro Basic Law bill, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, said it was hard to comment on something that he hasn’t read yet. “All we want is peace and unity. Let’s study what the BBL states,” he said. Video by Marc Jayson Cayabyab/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao made a rare appearance in the House of Representatives on Monday, only to beg off from commenting on the Bangsamoro basic bill as he has yet to read it.

Surprising reporters in the House press office, the boxing icon said he would like to reserve his comments on whether he would still support the bill following the involvement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF in the Mamasapano attack that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members dead.

“Mahirap gumawa ng comment kapag hindi mo pa nababasa ‘yun,” Pacquiao said of the bill that seeks to implement the government’s peace deal with the MILF.

Pacquiao is representative of Sarangani province in Mindanao, which would benefit from the implementation of the bill that would create a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“Basta ang hangad natin dyan, kapayapaan, katahimikan, pagkakaisa… Pag-aaralan nating mabuti yan kung ano ang nilalaman dyan. Mahirap magbigay ng comment,” added the Mindanao solon who was only able to show in the chamber for four session days.

When asked how he would like to participate in the House debates on the bill, Pacquiao said “Depende sa mapag-uusapan sa debate.”

According to House records, Pacquiao was technically “deemed present”—meaning his absence was excused—for three days. He spent 25 days on “constituency work” and registered two unexcused absences.

The part-time legislator, actor, singer, boxer and basketball coach said he sympathizes with the families of the 44 slain SAF cops, who were killed in an attack by the MILF on their way to take down two international terrorists allegedly coddled by the Moro rebels in Mamasapano town.

The Mindanao lawmaker, however, said he does not want to prejudge the MILF.

“Nakikiramay ako sa bawat pamilyang namatayan. Mahirap maghusga ngayon, kasi mayroon naman tayong under Article 1 of the Constitution, na lahat ng tao ay entitled sa due process,” Pacquiao said.