Bongbong Marcos wants BBL opt-in provision removed

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday said he will seek the removal of the controversial opt-in provision reinstated by the House ad hoc panel in the version of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) it passed last week because he believes it might lead to the “creeping expansion” of the new region in the future.

Marcos said the measure approved by the House ad hoc committee became even more problematic than the original draft bill submitted by Malacañang to Congress in part because it changed the opt-in provision to include more provinces in the list of areas which could hold a plebiscite for inclusion in the Bangsamoro territory.

“In many ways, mas problematic ‘yung draft version na pinasa ng committee kaysa sa draft BBL. Imbis na nagka-progress na pinag-aralan at pinaganda, parang umatras ang proseso,” he said in an interview aired over dzBB radio.

The senator, who chairs the Senate committee on local government tackling the BBL, said he will not endorse a draft BBL containing the opt in provision.

“Hindi namin ie-endorse ‘yun [kapag may opt-in provision] dahil wala namang pinanggalingan ‘yun. Ang tinitingnan namin na Bangsamoro core territory ay ‘yung naipaliwanag sa draft BBL. Bakit natin dadagdagan?” he said.

1976 Tripoli Agreement

The revised provision in the approved committee report states that a plebiscite for inclusion in the Bangsamoro area may be held in any local government unit or geographic area outside the jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro, but which is contiguous to any of the component units of the Bangsamoro and within the area of autonomy identified in the 1976 Tripoli agreement signed by the government with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

The petition for inclusion of the aforementioned areas in the Bangsamoro shall be effective when approved by a majority of votes cast in the plebiscite of the political units directly affected. However, the petitions for inclusion may only be filed on the fifth and 10th year following the enactment of the BBL.

Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora said the mention of the 1976 Tripoli agreement in Article 3 Section 3 leaves the door open for at least 10 provinces who rejected inclusion in the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)  to join the Bangsamoro region through a plebiscite.

Panel chair Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez originally pushed for the deletion of the opt-in provision because he agreed with some of his colleagues’ comments that it constitutes “creeping territorial expansion.” Even the Peace Council tasked by Malacañang to review to Bangsamoro bill had recommended its removal.

That clause, however, found its way to the latest version of the working draft on the BBL following Rodriguez’s consultation with committee vice chairpersons starting May 14.

More inclusive BBL

Marcos said it is surprising that the ad hoc committee chose to amend the opt-in provision to include areas mentioned in the Tripoli Agreement considering that these provinces have been vocal against joining the Bangsamoro region.

He warned that retaining the opt-in provision might result in the creeping expansion of the Bangsamoro territory.

“Dapat i-define na natin kung ano ‘yung autonomous region tapos ‘yun na ‘yun. Bakit pa magpapabagu-bago? Kung gayon, bakit hindi natin hayaan ‘yung mga ibang local governments [na ganoon din ang gawin]?” Marcos said.

In a separate radio interview, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero echoed Marcos’ view that the opt in provision shouldn’t remain in the BBL.

Aside from removing the opt-in provision, Escudero said he will propose amendments to the BBL to make it more inclusive.

“Nais kong amyendahan ang BBL para maging patas at parehas ito para kahit sinumang nasa Bangsamoro area, maski MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) official o hindi, may oportunidad na maging pinuno ng Bangsamoro,” he said.

The proposed BBL, which seeks to formalize the creation of a new political entity that will replace the ARMM, is a product of the comprehensive peace agreement signed by the government and MILF last year. — Xianne Arcangel/BM, GMA News