Lawmakers warn vs BBL railroading

MANILA, Philippines–Minority lawmakers on Wednesday cautioned leaders of the House of Representatives against railroading the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before the self-imposed deadline of mid-June.

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Rep. Antonio Tinio said Malacañang’s desire for the passage of a BBL with no amendments was “wishful thinking” as no one knew where exactly the House stood on the contentious bill.

“Even if you ask the House leadership, they will not be able to say categorically that they can pass the BBL,” Tinio said at a forum.

The ACT representative said the Jan. 25 Mamasapano incident, which led to the deaths of 44 elite police commandos, 17 Moro rebels, and three civilians, was the reason for the uncertainty of Congress successfully enacting the law creating a Bangsamoro homeland.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares also said the House leadership, which earlier indicated its intention to pass the BBL by June 11, should allow sufficient time for lawmakers to debate the measure on the floor.

The special House panel on the BBL chaired by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is set to vote on the bill next week and submit its committee report for plenary deliberation soon afterwards.

Rodriguez and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. earlier admitted that even they had no way of knowing how the chamber would vote on the BBL, once it came to it.

Colmenares said the minority bloc in the chamber had agreed to vote according to their individual choices and not as a bloc but would respect whichever way the vote went.

But as to the deadline set by the majority, “our call is not to sacrifice debate,” he said.

“Whether the vote is yes or no, we don’t want a railroading. It will not be to the benefit of Malacañang if the bill is railroaded,” he said.