BBL unlikely to be passed as Senate takes break—Drilon

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

The Senate might not be able to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) when it takes a break starting Wednesday, Senate President Franklin Drilon said.

But Drilon remained hopeful that the chamber would be able to pass the BBL before the year ends.

“Okay, unahin ko yung Bangsamoro Basic Law, malabo nating maipasa ngayong araw na ito o sa buwan ng Oktubre. Ngunit pagdating po ng Nobyembre at pagbalik namin sa sesyon, iyan po ay bibigyan namin ng prayoridad kasama ang national budget,” he said when asked over DZRH Wednesday morning if the proposed 2016 national budget and the BBL could still be passed within the year.

(The Bangsamoro Basic Law first, I don’t think we can pass it today or within this October. But when we resume our session in November, we will prioritize it along with the national budget.)

“Ang aming pong time table ay ipapasa natin bago matapos ang taon ang Bangsamoro Basic Law kasama din po yung P3 trillion na 2016 national budget, ay nasa agenda namin pagbalik namin sa November 3. Dahil by that time, we expect na tapos na ang deliberasyon sa House of Representatives at maiaakyat na sa amin. Bago po matapos, kagaya ng nakalipas na limang taon ay atin pong ipapasa ang 2016 budget,” he further said.

(Our timetable is to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the year ends as well as the P3 trillion 2016 national budget, these are in our agenda when we resume on November 3. Because by that time, we expect that the deliberations of the House of Representatives will be finished and it will be elevated to us. Like the past five years, we will pass this 2016 budget before the year ends)

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Drilon also expressed doubts on the passage of the proposed anti-political dynasty bill, noting that there is still no committee report on it at the Senate.

“Uulitin ko lang po, ako po ay sumusuporta diyan. Wala po akong kamag-anak na elected official-maliban lang sa isang second cousin doon sa amin, si Iloilo Mayor Jed Mabilog, he is my second cousin. Other than that, wala po akong elected official na kamag-anak,” he said.

(I will just reiterate that I support the bill. I have no relative who is an elected official except for my second cousin, Iloilo Mayor Jed Mabilog. Other than that, I have no other relative who is an elected official.)

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The Senate leader reiterated that with a number of senators running in the 2016 elections, the chamber was having a hard time doing its business.

Drilon noted that there are five senators running for vice presidents next year, one senator for president, while others were either seeking for re-election, or on medical leave.

At least four incumbent senators have already declared their vice presidential bid and they are—Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan is also considering running for the same post after he was endorsed by the United Nationalist Alliance.

Senator Grace Poe, on the other hand, will join the presidential derby.

Among the senators seeking re-election include Drilon, Sergio “Serge” Osmena III, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Ralph Recto and Teofisto Guingona III.

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Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has been on medical leave due to stage 4 cancer while Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada have been in detention in connection with the pork barrel scam. Maila Ager/RAM