Duterte to Congress: Make BBL conform with Constitution

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte PHOTO BY JOAN BONDOC

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday asked lawmakers to think of ways to free the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) from unconstitutional provisions.

Duterte made the appeal in front of lawmakers in Malacañang as he mentioned that the BBL would unlikely hurdle constitutional barriers.

“I do not think that it will hurdle constitutional — Binabasa ko paulit-ulit (I’m reading it again and again), the constitutional barriers. Pero ‘pag hindi natin maibigay ‘yan (But if we don’t give it), kindly help me think of ways how to do it,” he said in a speech during the signing into law of the 2018 national budget and the tax reform bill.

The President warned that the Moros would go to war if the proposed BBL won’t be passed by Congress.

“Pero kung magka-giyera-giyera talaga ‘to (But if they go to war) and they demand for something that is to correct also the historical injustice committed against them, ‘pag hindi natin ibinigay, mukhang malabo talaga at magkagulo (if we don’t give it to them, it will lead to trouble),” he said.

Duterte had earlier said urged Congress to hasten the approval of the proposed BBL to avoid more “trouble” from secessionist groups in Mindanao. /je