House postpones BBL voting to give way to LP version

THE House of Representatives postponed Tuesday’s voting on the proposed Bangsamoro basic law (BBL) to next week to give way for the proposed Liberal Party version of the bill, the Bangsamoro committee chairman said late Monday.

In a phone interview, Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez said the voting was rescheduled for May 18 to 20 because at least 20 lawmakers requested for a copy of the consolidated amendments ahead of the voting.

Rodriguez acceded to requests of some majority lawmakers, including that of Liberal Party lawmaker Davao Del Norte Representative Anthony Del Rosario.

During Monday’s hearing, Del Rosario proposed the most number of amendments to the bill that is considered the landmark legislation of the current administration in its peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

It was seen as the Liberal Party’s way to propose its amendments to have their version of the bill passed.

“If there is a Liberal Party version, (that would be) Congressman del Rosario’s amendments,” Rodriguez said.

But the lawmaker said some non-LP congressmen also vouched for Del Rosario’s amendments.

“There is no pressure of any party… I came to be reasonable that there should be consolidated amendments before the voting. We have to give that to them,” Rodriguez said.

The Cagayan de Oro lawmaker seemed to have backtracked on his initial declaration before the committee when he said the panel should already vote on Tuesday because their constituents are waiting for the vote.

“We will vote tomorrow. We already bent the rules. The people are waiting for our votes. We owe it to our people already that we should vote,” Rodriguez said.
The House panel is expected to vote on a per line basis on the bill through a roll call of members.

Lawmakers will be able to explain their vote during the plenary debate for nominal voting under second reading.

The proposed BBL will create a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro region to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and implement the government peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Lawmakers were critical of various provisions seen as contradictory to the Constitution.

Among the contested provisions are the creation of a Bangsamoro police, a commission on audit and an election body.

However, the Citizen’s Peace Council led by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide said the bill remains compliant with the Constitution.

The following are a few of the BBL amendments lawmakers will vote on tomorrow:

– The national government (through the Bangsamoro police), and not the Bangsamoro government, to have primary responsibility over public order and safety in the region

– Bangsamoro Commission on Audit (COA) to become Bangsamoro auditing body to assist COA central

– Bangsamoro electoral office to become Commission on Elections (Comelec) regional office in Bangsamoro region

– Bangsamoro government’s disciplinary authority over its own officials to have no prejudice against Ombudsman Central’s powers to discipline public officials

– Bangsamoro Civil Service to become Bangsamoro civil office

– To delete the provision for coordination between national and Bangsamoro government about the Armed Forces’ movement in the Bangsamoro region