Belmonte says relationship with Palace still OK

Despite the House of Representatives' failure to pass three important bills before Congress adjourned session Wednesday night, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is certain he still has the support of Malacañang.

During the last day of the second regular session, interpellations on the proposed Basic Law on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR) were suspended due to the long list of interpellators.

Similarly, the Resolution of Both Houses 1 (RBH1) or the economic Charter change bill was not voted on in third and final reading, while the Anti-Political Dynasty bill, which was supposed to be tackled on second reading, was not even mentioned.

Asked how his relationship with Malacañang was, Belmonte said, “[I was] able to catch a free flight back [from Iloilo] on the presidential plane. The mere fact na pinapasakay pa ko sa mga eroplano na 'yan means to say okay pa ang aming relationship.”

Belmonte is scheduled to attend the Independence Day rites in Iloilo City on Friday.

Belmonte expressed optimism that they could still pass the three bills when they resume session in July.

He said one problem with the BLBAR — formerly known as the Bangsamoro Basic Law — was the number of House members who want to interpellate. He said they could not ask the lawmakers to shorten their interpellation lest they be accused of gagging their members.

Belmonte said they are planning to pass the BLBAR, which will embody the peace agreement signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in September.

As for the economic Charter change, Belmonte said he will be consulting with Senate President Franklin Drilon to confirm if senators can muster the needed three-fourth vote to pass the bill.

Belmonte admitted there seemed to be a growing opposition to the bill among his colleagues.

Meanwhile, Belmonte said one reason why the Anti-Political Dynasty bill was not tackled on Wednesday was the fact that the current version is already a far cry from its original version.

“Nakita ko ang haba ng exceptions,” Belmonte said. “Sabi ko huwag na. I dont think in present form it is a viable thing.”

Some of the amendments being considered include allowing relatives from distant provinces to run even if they exceeded the maximum number of two politicians per family.

Belmonte said this is more plausible than relatives living in the same or nearby provinces running at the same time. —KBK, GMA News