BBL unlikely to be passed by June 10

Senator Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

The concerns of indigenous peoples (IP), the Sultanate of Sulu, and those of affected local government entities would still have to be tackled by the Senate local government committee before wrapping up its discussions on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The complex issues surrounding the proposed BBL, a vital product of the peace deal between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), would not be resolved without hearing the views of all affected parties, according to committee chair Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Thus, Marcos said it would be difficult for the Senate to approve the bill by June 10, the last session day before Congress adjourns.

Marcos has invited IP groups and members of the sultanate to a hearing on Monday where they will get the chance to air their views and concerns about the attempt to carve out a new region in Mindanao.

According to him, the Senate is working to ensure that IP groups would not be excluded or shunted aside, especially since they have as much right to the area.

“For centuries, the IPs have been living in their respective communities in Mindanao, with a culture, tradition and language distinct from Muslim inhabitants. We have to ensure too that the rights of the IPs are recognized and protected under the BBL,” he said in a statement.

Hearing the side of the Sultanate of Sulu is also important, as it was not consulted in the peace negotiations between the government and MILF, he claimed.

Earlier this month, Marcos held a committee hearing in Sulu, where the Royal Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo expressed misgivings about the draft BBL, and proposed that they be excluded from the core territory of the Bangsamoro.

“Unless BBL addresses the concerns of the majority of the stakeholders, and not just those of the MILF, I’m afraid we will not be able to realize our dream of a lasting peace in Muslim Mindanao,” he said.

The hearing on Monday is the local government committee’s penultimate one.

The last committee hearing is scheduled on June 3 and will tackle the concerns of local executives in areas that would form the core territories of the proposed Bangsamoro region, and of those in adjacent local government units.

According to Marcos, it was more important to ensure that the various issues surrounding the bill be ironed out first, instead of swiftly passing it with little scrutiny.

“As I said before, the top priority is getting it right,” he said.

Among the other issues that the Senate panel would have to tackle are the draft BBL’s unconstitutional provisions, as found by the committee on constitutional amendments.

Senators have vowed to amend the draft law endorsed by the Palace by removing provisions the find unconstitutional or dangerous.

Several lawmakers earlier said they feared the measure might concentrate too much power and resources in the MILF.