Zubiri: Delay in BOL ratification at House a 'temporary setback'

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday said he was "saddened" by the House of Representatives' failure to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the Bangsamoro Organic Law in time for President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address (SONA).

"Malungkot na malungkot ako na 'di natuloy ang pag-aprub ng bicam report sa HOR ng BOL," Zubiri told reporters when sought for comment.

Zubiri, who headed the Senate panel during the bicameral meetings to discuss the proposed BOL last week, said they would have wanted the measure to be highlighted during Duterte's third SONA set later in the day.

"Of course gusto sana namin ma-highlight ito sa SONA ng Pangulo at maging symbolic gesture of peace to our brothers in the Bangsamoro region lalo na sa stakeholders — the MILF and MNLF. Talagang ilang dekada nilang hinintay ito," he said, referring to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front.

Zubiri, however, said that the Senate respects the independence of the House as a separate legislative branch of government. He said he sees the non-ratification of the BOL on Monday as a temporary setback.

"We know that with the intramurals that are going on there now, so medyo politically magulo ang House, as of the moment, so we respect that," he said, referring to the reported plot by some lawmakers to oust Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

"We'll just patiently wait tomorrow, hopefully ma-aprub ito bukas at mapirmahan na ni Pangulo. In a way matagal na rin nating hinihintay ito and one more day won't hurt. It is not an end for BOL, it's just a temporary setback," he added.  —KBK, GMA News