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House OKs BBL proposal on final reading


The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading the bill seeking to provide for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

With 227 votes in the affirmative, 11 in the negative and two abstentions, the chamber approved House Bill 6475, the version of the BBL proposal filed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, subsequently on second and third reading.

The approval came after President Rodrigo Duterte himself certified the measure as urgent.

The bill aims to establish a political entity, provide for a basic structure of government to recognize the justness and legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people and their desire to chart their own political future through a democratic process securing their identity and allowing self-governance.

The House has conducted three all-party caucuses to discuss the contentious issues of the measure.

Congress leaders also held meetings with the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, whose version was adopted in the bill, to discuss the differing provisions.

After the deliberations, the chamber decided to amend the measure by substitution. The contents of the substitute bill were discussed in their caucus earlier in the day.

Among the amendments was placing the police and military force under the national government. In the original version of the bill, there were issues as to whether the police and military forces will be a separate entity from the national government.

There will also be only one plebiscite for the opt-in provision. The said provision allows all other land contiguous areas where there is resolution of the local government unit or a petition of at least 10 percent of the registered voters in the area to ask for their inclusion in the Bangsamoro region.

The plebiscite will be held not earlier than 90 days and not later than 120 days after the enactment of the proposed law.

Lawmakers who voted against the measure include:

  • Zamboanga Del Norte 3rd District Representative Isagani Amatong
  • Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas
  • Anakpawis party-list Representative Ariel Casilao
  • ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro
  • Zamboanga City 2nd District Representative Manuel Jose Dalipe
  • Gabriela Women's Party Representative Emmi De Jesus
  • Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago
  • Albay Representative Edcel Lagman
  • Cagayan De Oro City 2nd District Representative Maximo Rodriguez
  • ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio
  • Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate

Lawmakers who abstained from voting were Lanao Del Norte 2nd District Representative Abdullah Dimaporo and Zamboanga City 1st District Representative Celso Lobregat.

In voting against the measure, Lagman questioned the constitutionality of the bill, which seeks to abolish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

"The pertinent provisions of the 1987 Constitution under Art. X elevate the ARMM to a constitutional entity similar to the COMELEC, COA, Civil Service Commission, Office of the Ombudsman, and the Commission on Human Rights," he said.

"Verily, the ARMM cannot be dismantled to give way to BBL without first amending the Constitution by abolishing ARMM and authorizing the Congress to enact the BBL in its place. We cannot place the cart before the horse," he added.

Brosas, for her part, said the bill veers away from the Bangsamoro people's struggle for self-determination.

"Ang House Bill 6475 ay isang papel na imbes na magpatingkad at magpatibay sa dekadang pakikibaka ng mga Moro ay nagpalusaw sa mga nauna na nitong kagalingan at napagbunyian," she said.

"Bukod sa hindi pagkilala sa kakayahan nitong tumindig at magpasya, tinanggalan din ang mga ito ng karapatan na mapagyaman at mahinang ang ano mang likas yaman nito," she added.

Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano, meanwhile, said he voted to approve the bill after its contentious issues have been resolved.

"With this, we have proven not only to ourselves, but to our people, that beyond our conflicting political persuasions is a common desire to secure to our Mindanaoan brothers and sisters a brighter future ahead," he said.

Following its approval at the House, the proposed measure will be transmitted to the Senate for their own approval, which is also expected to happen within the day. — MDM/BM, GMA News

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