Miriam uses debate format in BBL hearing for clearer discussion

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday used a debate format in the conduct of the Senate hearing on the constitutional issues surrounding the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law for a clearer discussion.

 

Santiago, chairperson of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, paired off the resource panel depending on whether they are in favor or against the BBL.

 

The senator will open the hearing by identifying four major issues on the constitutionality of the BBL: 

 

 

         

The first pair will be Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process, against former Supreme Court Justice Florentino P. Feliciano on legislation vs. constitutional change.

 

Deles earlier said the BBL can be passed as if it was an ordinary law passed by the chambers of Congress while Feliciano said the BBL should be embodied as a proposal for constitutional amendment or revision. 

 

Those who support Feliciano’s position include the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP); former SC Justice Vicente V. Mendoza; former UP Law dean Merlin Magallona; and San Beda College Graduate School of Law dead Fr. Ranhilio C. Aquino. 

 

Meanwhile, Bangsamoro groups pushing for the passage of the BBL held a rally in front of the Senate hours before the hearing started.

 

Earlier in the day. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  suspended the discussions and hearings related to the passage of the BBL as he condemned the use of violence by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front against the Philippine National Police forces. 

 

In March 2014, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Philippine government signed a Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro for the establishment of the new Bangsamoro political entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

 

The draft BBL will provide the framework for the establishment of the new Bangsamoro entity and contains provisions on its basic structure of government, its head, rights of the people, justice system, public order and safety, fiscal autonomy, economy and patrimony, among others.

 

President Benigno Aquino III personally submitted the draft Bangsamoro law to Congress leaders in September 2014, a rare show show of support for a piece of legislation as usually bills emanate from the lawmakers. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News