Puno urges BBL ‘redesign’ to suit federal constitution

Retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno on Tuesday asked the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) if it could "redesign" the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to suit the federal form of government under a revised constitution.

"Both versions whether consolidated version in the House, in the Senate were crafted to suit the 1987 Constitution under which what has been established is a unitary form of government," Puno said at the proceedings of the Consultative Commission (Con-com) that President Rodrigo Duterte formed to study constitutional amendments.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, a member of the BTC, made a presentation before the Con-com as regards the BBL.

"Assuming that we are able to establish a federal form of government, will you still be submitting the same draft that is before us? Or will there be a redesigning of the Bangsamoro law draft?" Puno said during the deliberation with BTC officials.

"There will be difficulties. But I guess these difficulties will not arise if the draft will be redesigned to conform to a federal form of government," he added.

Iqbal, for his part, said that the BBL must first be passed first before any change in the system of government.

"It's easier to pass the BBL rather than a shift to a federal system of government because we know that the change of system of government will result in the change of status quo and it is very difficult, it is hurting to people enjoying the status quo," Iqbal said.

Iqbal said that the passage of BBL was one of the promises of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Our view and our stand is that the passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law should come first. It is contained in the commitment of the government. The passage of BBL or enacting of the law is the personal commitment of President Duterte during the election and even after he is elected," Iqbal said.

Iqbal, however, clarified that the BTC was not against the proposed shift of government and that it actually supported it.

Puno asked the BTC to prepare two drafts of the BBL, one which will suit a unitary kind government and the other for federal system of government. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News